 GFP expression living mouse |
 mouse lung |
 mouse liver |
Firefly Luciferase is a nearly ideal reporter gene for plant cells. The first luciferase gene cloned was from the North American firefly Photinus pyralis. The active enzyme is a single polypeptide with a mass of 62kDa. The luciferase reaction emits yellow-green light (560nm) and requires only the enzyme, ATP, Mg2+, O2 and the substrate luciferin. In fireflies, the luciferase reaction occurs in the peroxisomes of a specialized light organ, but the reaction can also occur in bacteria, cell-free extracts and in plant tissues. Most frequently the detection of the luciferase activity is performed in a photon measuring device such as a luminometer or a scintillation counter. With a cooled CCD camera system or Kodak's In-Vivo & In-Vitro Imaging Systems, the luciferase expression can be detected and measured more elegantly in situ.
