Team:BCCS-Bristol/Wetlab/Part Design/Components/Reporters

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Contents

Reporter - Fluorescent Proteins

Our project makes use of two reporters; a Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) whose expression is dictated by the level of Nitrate, and RFP, which is constitutively expressed. In particular, our GFP was BBa_E0840, which consists of transcription terminators and a strong ribosome binding site along with GFP. Whilst our RFP was BBa_J04450, which consists of all the necessary parts for constant expression.


How Does it Work?

GFP is a spontaneously fluorescent protein, with a main excitation peak at 395nm, and a minor peak at 475nm, whilst its emission peak is at 508nm.

In contrast for RFP, the excitation peak is at 584nm and the emission peak is at 607nm, sufficiently far away from GFP that the two signals are easily distinguishable by any reasonably accurate spectroscopic equipment, or indeed the CCD of a digital camera.


Why Did We Choose It?

Easily detectable with relatively low tech equipment.

Quantifiable signal.

Doesn't require any substrate (as opposed to luciferase).

Wide range of fluorescent proteins available in parts registry; allows us to easily extend project by connecting these to other promoters, without needing additional detection equipment.

frankly I don't care I'd rather go to sleep

Background

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was first isolated in the 1970’s from jellyfish, its biological function is to transduce blue chemiluminescence from another protein into green light. Since the gene for GFP was isolated and shown to be an effective transgene it has become an important reporter molecule used in almost all fields of biology [15]. It can be expressed in high enough quantities that its fluorescence is easily visible to the naked eye.

Since the discovery of GFP many other fluorescent proteins have been discovered and charac- terised. For our red fluorescent protein (RFP) we chose one from the coral Discosoma striata.