Thursday 16 December 2010

AnaSpec expands Anti-GFP collection

AnaSpec has expanded its GFP antibodies offerings. The new GFP antibodies include two monoclonals raised in mouse and a third, a polyclonal raised in chicken. Purified green-fluorescent protein (GFP) was used as antigen. Antibody reactivity was confirmed by ELISA and specificity was confirmed by Western Blot using GFP protein. These antibodies also recognize other GFP mutant forms.
Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a 27-kDa protein, which was originally cloned from Jellyfish cnidarians, Aequorea victoria. This exceptional protein absorbs blue light (maximally at 395 nm) and emits green light (peak at 509 nm) without any requirement for exogenous substrates and cofactors1.

These unique intrinsic fluorescence properties make GFP an invaluable tool in cell biology research in applications such as monitoring gene expression and protein localization of GFP-tagged proteins in vivo.

Other applications of GFP include assessment of protein-protein interactions through the yeast two hybrid system and measurement of distance between proteins through fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) protocols. Several mutant forms of GFP have been developed which fluoresce more intensely and have shifted excitation maximum when compared to the wild type GFP, making them useful for FACS, fluorescence microscopy, and double-labeling applications2,3.

References:
1. Cormack, B. et al. Gene 173, 33 (1996).
2. Rizzuto, R. et al. Curr Biol 6, 183 (1996).
3. Chalfie, M. et al. Science 263, 802 (1994).
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