Go with the glow: fluorescent proteins to light transgenic organisms

Once a biological novelty known for their role in bioluminescence, fluorescent proteins (FPs) from marine invertebrates have revolutionized the life sciences. Organisms from all kingdoms have been transformed with the Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein (GFP), and biotechnology has been advanced by the use of FPs. This article reviews the current uses of FPs in whole transgenic organisms and genomics and looks beyond GFP to the complete color palette and spectral properties afforded by FPs from other marine organisms. Coupled with electronic devices for visualizing and quantifying FPs, recently cloned FP genes might be useful for the ecological monitoring of transgenic organisms in the environment. Therefore, this review also addresses the in vivo labeling of organisms with an emphasis on plants.