Confocal micrograph showing the expression of different fluorescent proteins in the stem of a thale cress seedling (Arabidopsis thaliana) used to study in vivo gene expression. Arabidopsis was the first plant to have its entire genome sequenced and is an important model for studying plant biology.
These genetically modified plants have fluorescent proteins associated with different gene promoters. Promoters are sequences of DNA that act as 'genetic switches' turning on the expression of particular genes. In these plants, when a promoter switches a gene on, a corresponding fluorescent protein is produced, allowing expression of these genes to be viewed. In this image green fluorescence (GFP) shows the expression of the gene under investigation and the red fluorescence corresponds to the expression of a known gene and thus acts as a reference. Cells that are yellow express both genes. A third fluorescent protein is attached to the plasma membrane to show the outline of each cell.
With computer software, scientists can analyse changes in the different fluorescent proteins within these cells to track the expression of specific genes on a cell-by-cell basis in living plant tissue as it grows. As the plant is alive, different time points can be captured to track changes in cell size and gene activity in each cell.
Small red cells that don't have the gene active and do not express GFP are precursors of stomata.
2011 Wellcome Images Award winner. Wellcome Image Awards 2011.
