Role of Green florescent protein (GFP) gene in somatic cell cultures – A review

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a single peptide of 238 amino acids, extracted from Aequorea jelly fish absorbs blue light and emits green light. Cloning of GFP came with breakthrough that expression of the gene in other organisms aeates fluorescence and there is no jellyfish specific enzymes needed for the post-translational synthesis of the chromofore. The GFP is a noninvasive, effective marker for screening and allows the direct visualization of gene expression in living cells without the need for destructive techniques or the addition of cofactors. Prior to done any livestock species for the purpose to fulfill the requirement of human need, the incorporation of transgene through transfection in the somatic cells is essential. Desired gene can be inserted in the somatic cells and actual transfected cells can be identified with the help of any reporter gene among them GFP is most popular due to its independence from any substrate or cofactor, and these cells can be separated through any suitable technique such as Auorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACS). Even very few no. of transfected somatic cells can lead to successful generation of Transgenic animal.