Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a protein that exhibits bright green fluorescence when exposed to light in the blue to ultraviolet range. The label GFP traditionally refers to the protein first isolated from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria and is sometimes called avGFP. Green fluorescence protein (GFP) is a protein composed with 238 amino acids and isolated from Aequorea victoria. GFP emits green fluorescent spontaneously.
Luciferase, a bioluminescent oxidoreductase enzyme, catalyzes photon emission (400-620nm) through oxidation of its luciferin substrate. Its ultra-high sensitivity (detecting gene expression at single-cell resolution) and zero endogenous background establish it as a core reporter tool in oncology research. The broad dynamic range (linear correlation between signal intensity and cell number/gene activity) supports studies on weak promoters and microRNA regulation, while superior in vivo penetration (red-shifted mutants >600nm wavelength reach 3-4cm depth) enables non-invasive real-time monitoring of tumor metastasis, drug response, and PROTAC degradation kinetics. Dual-reporter systems (Firefly + Renilla) ensure precise dissection of cancer pathway mechanisms via internal normalization, and bioluminescence imaging (BLI) quantifies therapeutic efficacy in xenograft models.