Zhu Huaxing, Wang Guangxue, Li Gang, Han Min, Xu Tian, Zhuang Yuan, Wu Xiaohui
Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Genesis. 2005 Jun;42(2):86-90. doi: 10.1002/gene.20129.
Fluorescent proteins provide a powerful means to track gene expression and cellular behaviors in the study of model organisms such as mice. Among the new generation of fluorescent protein markers, the monomeric red fluorescent protein mRFP1 is particularly attractive because of its rapid maturation and minimal interference with GFP and GFP-derived markers. Here we evaluate the utility of mRFP1 as a marker in transgenic mice. We show that high level and ubiquitous expression of mRFP1 does not affect mouse development, general physiology, or reproduction. mRFP1 expression can be readily detected with unaided eyes under daylight in transgenic mice on the albino background. The intensity of mRFP1 signals can be used to distinguish homozygous and heterozygous transgenic mice. Together, these features make mRFP1 an attractive marker for broad applications in transgenic research.
荧光蛋白为追踪基因表达和研究诸如小鼠等模式生物中的细胞行为提供了一种强大的手段。在新一代荧光蛋白标记物中，单体红色荧光蛋白mRFP1因其成熟迅速且对绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）及其衍生标记物的干扰最小而格外引人注目。在此，我们评估了mRFP1作为转基因小鼠标记物的效用。我们发现，mRFP1的高水平普遍表达并不影响小鼠的发育、一般生理机能或繁殖能力。在白化背景的转基因小鼠中，在日光下仅凭肉眼就能轻松检测到mRFP1的表达。mRFP1信号的强度可用于区分纯合和杂合转基因小鼠。这些特性共同使得mRFP1成为转基因研究广泛应用中极具吸引力的标记物。
