GFPstä

GFPstä, also known as Green Fluorescent Protein, is a naturally occurring protein found in the jellyfish Aequorea victoria. Its remarkable ability to emit green light when exposed to blue light has made it an invaluable tool in molecular biology and a widely used reporter gene. The protein's fluorescence is a result of a series of autocatalytic steps within its polypeptide chain, leading to the formation of a chromophore.

The discovery and characterization of GFP revolutionized biological research. Scientists can genetically fuse GFP to other proteins, allowing them to track the location, movement, and interactions of those proteins within living cells and organisms. This has applications in a vast range of fields, from understanding gene expression and protein localization to studying disease progression and developing new therapeutic strategies.

Numerous variants of GFP have been engineered, exhibiting different colors (e.g., blue, yellow, red fluorescent proteins) and improved properties such as brighter fluorescence, faster maturation, and greater photostability. These advancements have further expanded the utility of fluorescent proteins in live-cell imaging and multicolor labeling experiments. The discovery of GFP and its subsequent development earned Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie, and Roger Y. Tsien the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008.