Researchers have developed a green fluorescent protein (GFP) based plasmid that can be used to detect differentiated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. RPE is a layer of cells located behind the eye that becomes damaged in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Current cell based therapies for treating AMD focus on generating RPE cells from stem cells. This GPF-based plasmid can be inserted into growing stem cells, and the fluorescence marker can be used to detect and purify stem cells differentiating into RPE cells. This advancement allows generation of a purified population of RPE cells for in vitro and transplantation purposes.

Additionally, cells comprising the GFP-based construct may be useful in high-throughput drug screening as a means to: (1) identify potential therapeutic targets of RPE degenerative diseases such as AMD, and (2) evaluate initial toxicity of candidate drugs in RPE cells.