What is one advantage of using eukaryotic cells for GFP expression?

Using eukaryotic cells for GFP expression offers the significant advantage of better post-translational modifications and proper protein folding. Eukaryotic cells, such as yeast or mammalian cells, have cellular machinery that is equipped to perform complex modifications such as glycosylation, phosphorylation, and disulfide bond formation, which are vital for the functional activity of many proteins, including fluorescent proteins. These modifications often enhance the stability, activity, and overall quality of the expressed protein.

In contrast, prokaryotic cells like bacteria lack the necessary organelles and enzymatic pathways to perform these modifications effectively, which can lead to improperly folded or inactive forms of the protein. This deficiency can result in lower yields of functional protein from bacterial expression compared to the more sophisticated capabilities of eukaryotic systems. Therefore, the ability of eukaryotic cells to incorporate accurate post-translational modifications is a crucial factor for obtaining high-quality GFP and is fundamental in various applications, including research and therapeutic use.