Visualization of molecular and cellular events with green fluorescent proteins in developing embryos: a review

Luminescence. 2003 Jan-Feb;18(1):1-18. doi: 10.1002/bio.701.

Abstract

During the past 5 years, green fluorescent protein (GFP) has become one of the most widely used in vivo protein markers for studying a number of different molecular processes during development, such as promoter activation, gene expression, protein trafficking and cell lineage determination. GFP fluorescence allows observation of dynamic developmental processes in real time, in both transiently and stably transformed cells, as well as in live embryos. In this review, we include the most up-to-date use of GFP during embryonic development and point out the unique contribution of GFP visualization, which resulted in novel discoveries.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Lineage
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
  • Embryonic Development
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins / analysis*
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics*
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Biology / methods*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / analysis*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins