What is firefly luciferase gene?
Luciferase is a light-producing enzyme naturally found in insect fireflies and in luminous marine and terrestrial microorganisms. From: Enzymology Primer for Recombinant DNA Technology, 1996.
What is the DNA sequence of the luciferase gene?
The luciferase gene was composed of seven exons, coding for 547 amino acids, separated by six introns and spanning 1976 bp of genomic DNA (Fig. 1 and Figure 2). The entire 3086 bp sequence, including primer sequence, was deposited in GenBank, accession # DQ072141.
Does luciferase come from fireflies?
Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, are insects in the Lampyridae family who use bioluminescence to attract potential mates and prey. Their conspicuous glow at twilight comes from an enzyme called luciferase, which can be isolated in the lab.
Which protein is present in fireflies?
Luciferase from the firefly Photinus pyralis (EC 1.13. 12.7) is a peroxisomal protein found in the light-emitting organ known as the lantern within the abdomen of the insect. The firefly uses this enzyme to emit flashes of light to attract its mate.
What is luciferase RNA?
Luciferase Control RNA is an uncapped in vitro-transcribed RNA containing a 30-base poly(A) tail that produces functional luciferase when translated. Control reactions are monitored easily by a luciferase assay for the production of luminescence generated from the full-length luciferase.
Why does the firefly emit the light produced in this reaction?
This type of light production is called bioluminescence. The method by which fireflies produce light is perhaps the best known example of bioluminescence. When oxygen combines with calcium, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the chemical luciferin in the presence of luciferase, a bioluminescent enzyme, light is produced.
How is the luciferase protein made?
Luciferases can be produced in the lab through genetic engineering for a number of purposes. Luciferase genes can be synthesized and inserted into organisms or transfected into cells. As of 2002, mice, silkworms, and potatoes are just a few of the organisms that have already been engineered to produce the protein.
How is luciferase produced?
What reaction is firefly?
The light of a firefly is a chemical reaction caused by an organic compound – luciferin – in their abdomens. As air rushes into a firefly’s abdomen, it reacts with the luciferin. It causes a chemical reaction that gives off the firefly’s familiar glow.
What are the reactants and products of firefly bioluminescence?
1), luciferase converts firefly D-luciferin (LH2) into the corresponding enzyme-bound luciferyl adenylate. In fact, D-LH2-AMP produced synthetically reacts with oxygen in the presence of luciferase to produce light emission identical to that obtained with the natural substrates D-luciferin and Mg-ATP.
What is luciferase protein?
Luciferases are proteins with enzymatic activity that, in the presence of ATP, oxygen, and the appropriate substrate (typically luciferin), catalyze the oxidation of the substrate in a reaction that results in the emission of a photon.
What is luciferin luciferase reaction?
Chemistry The chemical reaction that results in bioluminescence requires two unique chemicals: luciferin and either luciferase or photoprotein. Luciferin is the compound that actually produces light. In a chemical reaction, luciferin is called the substrate.
How does luciferase activity work?
A Luciferase Reporter Assay. When this protein activates transcription, the cell will produce luciferase enzyme. After the addition of a lysis buffer and a substrate, a luminometer quantifies the luciferase activity. If your protein activates the expression of the target gene, the amount of signal produced increases.