865 results about "Luciferases" patented technology

Luciferase enzymes with greatly increased thermostability, e.g., at least half lives of 2 hours at 50° C., cDNAs encoding the novel luciferases, and hosts transformed to express the luciferases, are disclosed. Methods of producing the luciferases include recursive mutagenesis. The luciferases are used in conventional methods, some employing kits.

Disclosed is a device and methods for the rapid chemiluminescence assay of surfaces to detect the presence of microbial contamination. The device and methods are suitable for use by untrained personnel under the relatively harsh and variable conditions found in the field, for example in fast food restaurants and other food preparation areas. The chemiluminescence reaction that is the source of the analytical signal in the disclosed assay device and method is preferably based on a luciferase / luciferin system.

The invention comprises modified luciferase proteins which are more resistant to inhibition by test chemicals than wild type luciferase. The modified luciferases also contain greater thermostability than wild type luciferase.

A method of measuring the enzymatic activity of a luciferase includes contacting a luminogenic protein, such as a luciferase, with a protected luminophore to form a composition; and detecting light produced from the composition. The protected luminophore provides increased stability and improved signal-to-background ratios relative to the corresponding unmodified coelenterazine.

The present invention provides methods, compositions, substrates, and kits useful for analyzing the metabolic activity in cells, tissue, and animals and for screening test compounds for their effect on cytochrome P450 activity. In particular, a one-step and two-step methods using luminogenic molecules, e.g. luciferin or coelenterazines, that are cytochrome P450 substrates and that are also bioluminescent enzyme, e.g., luciferase, pro-substrates are provided. Upon addition of the luciferin derivative or other luminogenic molecule into a P450 reaction, the P450 enzyme metabolizes the molecule into a bioluminescent enzyme substrate, e.g., luciferin and / or luciferin derivative metabolite, in a P450 reaction. The resulting metabolite(s) serves as a substrate of the bioluminescent enzyme, e.g., luciferase, in a second light-generating reaction. Luminescent cytochrome P450 assays with low background signals and high sensitivity are disclosed and isoform selectivity is demonstrated. The present invention also provides an improved method for performing luciferase reactions which employs added pyrophosphatase to remove inorganic pyrophosphate, a luciferase inhibitor which may be present in the reaction mixture as a contaminant or may be generated during the reaction. The present method further provides a method for stabilizing and prolonging the luminescent signal in a luciferase-based assay using luciferase stabilizing agents such as reversible luciferase inhibitors.

A compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof:[wherein R1 and R2 represent hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, or a group represented by the following formula (A):[wherein X1 and X2 represent hydrogen atom, or a group represented as —N(R3)(R4) (R3 and R4 represent hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, a C1-6 alkylcarbonyl group, or a C1-6 alkyloxycarbonyl group); and n represents an integer of 1 to 6 ], provided that R1 and R2 do not simultaneously represent hydrogen atom), which is a novel luciferin derivative that serves as a luciferase substrate.

Isolated and purified nucleic acids encoding green fluorescent proteins from Renilla reniformis and the green fluorescent protein encoded thereby are also provided. Mutants of the nucleic acid molecules and the modified encoded proteins are also provided. Compositions and combinations comprising the green fluorescent proteins and / or the luciferase are further provided.