Re-Engineered GFP

About

Overview Green fluorescent Protein (GFP) is a fluorescent marker for gene expression commonly used in laboratories throughout industry and academia. Existing GFP has an inadvertent gene silencing property (see Corcoran et al. 2010* ) which is mitigated by this technology. What Problem Does it Solve/Advantages Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have found that GFP is bound to a protein which can slow or block gene expression. That GFP, the most widely used live-cell reporter of gene expression, has tacit gene silencing properties means that much of the research published to date may not be as accurate as previously assumed. This heretofore unknown property of GFP has led the researchers in Trinity to create their own GFP construct which ameliorates this complication. The technology offered here provides a solution for researchers who may be concerned by the gene silencing features of wild-type GFP. Technology and Patent Status *The findings on which this technology are based have been published in the Journal of Bacteriology, Sept. 2010, p 4790-4793 A PCT application was filed in June of 2010. Possible Applications At present, all commercially available GFP constructs are subject to H-NS gene inhibition described here. These are prone to producing imprecise results in assays of gene expression. The construct offered here avoids these disadvantages. Due to the novelty of the findings on which this technology is based there is, as yet, no commercially available solution to the problem identified here. The construct offered here can be utilised in other forms of the gfp gene which fluoresce at different wavelengths. The Opportunity This technology is currently in development stage and is available for license to a company who is keen to further develop it for the wider market.