Mini-transposon Tn5gfp constructs for differential tagging of microorganisms

Recently thegfp (green fluorescent protein) gene from the jellyfishAequoria victoria has been widely used as a reporter gene. In this study mini-transposons, named as mini-Tn5gfp, were constructed by subcloning thegfp gene into a transposon Tn5. To improve the expression level of thegfp gene, tandom array ofgfp gene was obtained. The constructs were successfully used in tagging target microorganisms by transposition. The level of GFP expression was found to be closely correlated with the copy number of the gfp transposed. These constructs will facillitate not only efficient tagging of whole organism but also genetic marking of target genes by transposition.