title: Green fluorescent protein as a vital marker and reporter of gene expression in Drosophila.
abstract: We have used the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria as a vital marker/reporter in Drosophila melanogaster. Transgenic flies were generated in which GFP was expressed under the transcriptional control of the yeast upstream activating sequence that is recognized by GAL4. These flies were crossed to several GAL4 enhancer trap lines, and expression of GFP was monitored in a variety of tissues during development using confocal microscopy. Here, we show that GFP could be detected in freshly dissected ovaries, imaginal discs, and the larval nervous system without prior fixation or the addition of substrates or antibodies. We also show that expression of GFP could be monitored in intact living embryos and larvae and in cultured egg chambers, allowing us to visualize dynamic changes in gene expression during real time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Zoology, University of Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Boulianne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C052130:GAL4 protein, S cerevisiae; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins