Rare distribution of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in hydroids from Porto Cesareo, Lecce, Italy, with reference to biological meaning of this rarity

Abstract

A reliable taxonomic character, distributional pattern of green fluorescent protein (GFP), that is contributable to species demarcation by observing living materials under the fluorescent microscope, has not been much done in hydroids in contrast to hydromedusae. We carried out such a fundamental study in diverse hydroids collected from Porto Cesareo, Lecce, Italy. In contrast to diversified distribution of GFP in the hydromedusae, GFP distribution in hydroids are unexpectedly very rare, and its biological meaning is deduced.