Читать книгу Principles of Virology - Jane Flint, S. Jane Flint - Страница 97

The discovery of green fluorescent protein revolutionized the study of the cell biology of virus infection. This protein, isolated from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, is a convenient reporter for monitoring gene expression, because it is directly visible in living cells without the need for fixation, substrates, or coenzymes. Mutagenesis of the gene encoding this protein has led to the development of new fluorescent probes ranging in color from blue to yellow (Fig. 2.15A). Additional fluorescent proteins emitting in the red, deep red, cyan, green, yellow, and orange spectral regions have been isolated from other marine species. Codon optimization for maximum translation in specific cell types and improved stability and brightness are other modifications that have broadened the utility of these proteins.