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2016 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

Luciferase Genes as Reporter Reactions: How to Use Them in Molecular Biology?

Authors : L. Cevenini, M. M. Calabretta, D. Calabria, A. Roda, E. Michelini

Published in: Bioluminescence: Fundamentals and Applications in Biotechnology - Volume 3

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

The latest advances in molecular biology have made available several biotechnological tools that take advantage of the high detectability and quantum efficiency of bioluminescence (BL), with an ever-increasing number of novel applications in environmental, pharmaceutical, food, and forensic fields. Indeed, BL proteins are being used to develop ultrasensitive binding assays and cell-based assays, thanks to their high detectability and to the availability of highly sensitive BL instruments. The appealing aspect of molecular biology tools relying on BL reactions is their general applicability in both in vitro assays, such as cell cultures or purified proteins, and in vivo settings, such as in whole-animal BL imaging. The aim of this chapter is to provide the reader with an overview of state-of-the-art bioluminescent tools based on luciferase genes, highlighting molecular biology strategies that have been applied so far, together with some selected examples.

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Title: Luciferase Genes as Reporter Reactions: How to Use Them in Molecular Biology?
Authors: L. Cevenini
M. M. Calabretta
D. Calabria
A. Roda
E. Michelini
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Book: Bioluminescence: Fundamentals and Applications in Biotechnology - Volume 3
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27405-8

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-27407-2

Copyright Year: 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2015_325