Roger Tsien wins Nobel for GFP

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN - News), a provider of essential life science technologies for research, production and diagnostics, today congratulates the three winners of the 2008 Nobel Prize in chemistry: Drs. Roger Tsien, Osamu Shimomura and Martin Chalfie, all of whom contributed to developing and expanding the use of fluorescent proteins in biological applications. Fluorescent proteins, including those developed by Dr. Tsien, form the foundation for dozens of products from Invitrogen.

Dr. Shimomura discovered a protein in jellyfish, called Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), that glows when excited by light energy, and Dr. Chalfie expressed the protein in multiple organisms. Dr. Tsien’s contribution was in creating a family of genetically engineered GFPs that have enhanced properties and distinct colors, thereby making GFP into a highly versatile research tool for both cell biology and animal modeling. In addition, his laboratory engineered GFPs to serve as sensors for various intracellular physiological events, allowing these key processes to be visualized in living cells in real time.

The applications of these fluorescent proteins are myriad, ranging from providing scientists with a quick indication of cell engineering success, to allowing researchers to monitor complex cellular and tissue functions in living organisms.

“The discovery of GFP and its subsequent genetic engineering have allowed biologists to probe phenomena that were previously not addressable” said Brian Pollok, Ph.D., Invitrogen’s Chief Scientific Officer. “We congratulate Dr. Tsien, Dr. Chalfie and Dr. Shimomura for their significant contributions to biotechnology. Their work clearly shows how the creation and application of novel research tools can change the landscape of biology.”

I was lucky enough to work within Dr. Tsien's laboratory when I was in graduate school at UCSD. He is a class individual, and deserves the recognition. Cell biology would not be the same with these discoveries. IVGN was down today 18 cents, but what wasn't? LOL.

an example of GFP, green flourescent protein, from the jellyfish. I have used this gene many times in my research of non receptor tyrosine kinases: the green part of the leading edge of the cell is a GFP labeled combined proteins termed focal adhesions. This is where the cell attaches to its environment.