| Type: | Family | Name: | Green fluorescent protein, GFP |
| Description: | The green fluorescent protein (GFP) is found in the jellyfish (Aequorea victoria), and functions as an energy-transfer acceptor. It fluoresces in vivoupon receiving energy from the Ca2+-activated photoprotein aequorin. The protein absorbs light maximally at 395 nm and exhibits a smaller absorbance peak at 470 nm. The fluorescence emission spectrum peaks at 509 nm with a shoulder at 540 nm. The protein is produced in the photocytes and contains a chromophore, which is composed of modified amino acid residues. The chromophore is formed upon cyclisation of the residues ser-dehydrotyr-gly. There are several other members of the GFP family, which are able to fluoresce different colours, sveral of which are non-fluorescent []. These proteins are all essentailly encoded by single genes, since both the substrate and the catalytic enzyme for pigment biosynthesis are provided within a single polypeptide chain []. | Short Name: | Green_fluorescent_prot |
