GFP
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Biology
| Stands for | Green fluorescent protein |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
GFP stands for Green fluorescent protein, a biology abbreviation.
Protein from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria that glows bright green under blue or ultraviolet light without any added cofactor. Fusing the GFP gene to another gene lets scientists watch where and when a protein appears in living cells, tissues and whole animals.
Example: Neurons expressing GFP glowed green under the confocal microscope, outlining every branch.
Usage notes
Osamu Shimomura isolated GFP in 1962, Martin Chalfie showed in 1994 that it fluoresces when expressed in other organisms, and Roger Tsien engineered new colors; the three shared the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Variants include EGFP, YFP and CFP, and red proteins such as mCherry come from corals.
Related abbreviations
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- GMO – Genetically modified organism
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- GTP – Guanosine triphosphate
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