Fluorescent Leaf-Like Structures Formed by Self-Assembly of Green Fluorescent Protein
Hsi-Chi Lu1, Yi-Lin Huang2,3, Woan-Ling Chen2
1Department of Food Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Biopolymers
|July 21, 2026
Summary
Green fluorescent protein (GFP) retains fluorescence when self-assembling into leaf-like structures. This study reveals GFP
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Protein Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a widely used reporter protein originally from Aequorea victoria.
- Recombinant technology enables large-scale synthesis of GFP for various applications.
- Understanding GFP properties is crucial for optimizing its use in research and biotechnology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of process conditions on GFP conformation and fluorescence.
- To optimize GFP separation and purification processes.
- To explore novel self-assembly properties of recombinant GFP.
Main Methods:
- Aqueous two-phase systems and liquid chromatography for GFP separation.
- Fluorescence intensity and circular dichroism spectroscopy to assess protein conformation.
- SDS-PAGE to analyze protein migration and denaturation.
- Evaporation-concentration technique to induce self-assembly.
Main Results:
- Optimized separation processes were proposed to enhance fluorescent GFP yield.
- Fluorescent GFP exhibits anomalous migration (~37 kDa) on non-heating SDS-PAGE due to its stable β-barrel conformation.
- Purified GFP spontaneously self-assembles into macroscopic, fluorescent leaf-like structures upon concentration.
- The self-assembled structures retain fluorescence throughout the morphology.
Conclusions:
- Recombinant GFP possesses a remarkable self-assembly capability, forming macroscopic fluorescent structures.
- The study provides the first direct visualization of such GFP assemblies, retaining fluorescence.
- These findings suggest potential applications for GFP in protein-based nanomaterials and self-assembly nanotechnology.
Keywords:
GFP self‐assemblyfluorescent leaf‐like structuresgreen fluorescent proteinprotein purification and separationMore Related Videos
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