Applications of Bioluminescence

The hrefly Inciferin system is very sensitive and can be conpled to any enzymatic reaction that prodnces or nses ATP. For example, creatine phosphokinase can be determined by this method and hence be nsed in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and mnscle disorders. The creatine phosphokinase converts AMP into ATP which then nndergoes the reaction with Inciferin as shown in Fignre 3.25. ATP pro-dnction is essential for every known life form and the firefly Inciferin system can be nsed to check for microbial life. Hence systems have been developed that use a portable luminescence workstation to monitor sanitation in food manufacturing and to check for sterile environments in technological workplaces. The system can also be applied in checking cell viability, for instance in cell cultures and to measure the toxic effects of chemicals on cells. 

The GFP from the jellyhsh Aequorea victoria is widely used a marker in gene expression. Cloning has been nsed to prodnce a strnctnrally similar red analogue 583 nm), called Ds Red, which is related to the red glowing protein in Discosoma corals.  

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L. J. Kricka, ed.. Analytical Applications of Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1984. 

Analytical Application of Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, NASA SP-388 ed., pp. 89-94. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC. 

Although numerous luminous organisms are known, only a few of them has been studied and really exploited. Analytical applications of bioluminescence concern mainly the detection of ATP with the firefly luciferase and of NADH with some marine bacteria systems. Luciferase from the North American firefly, i.e., Photinus pyralis, has been extensively studied10-12 and afterwards, attention has been paid to the luciferase from Luciola mingrelica, i.e., the North Caucasus firefly13 15. 

Table 3 Recently Reviewed Analytical Applications of Bioluminescent Systems... 

Buhch, A.A. Green, M.M. The use of luminescent bacteria for biological monitoring of water quality. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Analysis and Application of Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence Schram, E., Phihp, Eds. Schram, State Printing and Publ. Inc., 1979 193 211. 

Roda A, Pasini P, Mirasoli M, Michelini E, Guardigli M. 59. Biotechnological applications of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence. Trends Biotechnol. 2004 22 295-303. 

Bundy, J.G., Wardell, J.L., Campbell, C.D., Killham, K. and Paton, G.I. (1997) Application of bioluminescence-based microbial biosensors to the ecotoxicity assessment of organotins. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 25, 353-358. 

The book covers the fundamental aspects of bioluminescence, including beetle, marine bacterial and Cypridina bioluminescence, and the fundamental aspects of chemiluminescence, including 1,2-dioxetanes. It also presents recent developments in instrumentation and devices and a wide range of applications of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence. 

International Symposium on Analytical Applications of Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence. Proceedings 1978. Editors Schram E, Stanley PE. Westlake Village, CA State Printing Publishing, Inc., 1979, pp. 696. (Privately published). 2" 1980 San Diego, CA, USA... 

Analytical Applications of Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence. Editors Kricka U, Stanley PE, Thorpe GHG, Whitehead TP. London Academic Press 1984. pp. 602. ISBN 0-12-426290-2. 

Bio luminescent methods provide researchers with unique opportunities to track growth and movement of cells in real-time and to non-destructively monitor fast metabolic changes with high sensitivity and specificity directly in a live animal or cell.10 13 Despite these evident advantages, few results have been reported on the application of bioluminescent methods for monitoring the processes of bacterial infection."... 

Table 3 Applications of bioluminescent proteins, photoproteins, and genes...

A project lead by the Stanford group within CBST has been developing applications of bioluminescence in mammalian cells using the ATP-hydrolysis of luciferin by the enzyme firefly luciferase. Luciferin is a small, non-polar molecule capable of crossing biological membranes, and in cells that are transfected to express luciferase bioluminescence has been shown to occur spontaneously upon passive diffusion of luciferin into the cells. 

Kricka, L. J. Application of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence in biomedical sciences. Methods Enzymol. 2000, 305, 333-345. 

McCapra F. (1987) Potential applications of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence in biosensors, in Biosensors. Fundamentals and applications, (ed. A.P.F. Turner, I. Karube and G.S. Wilson), Oxford Univ. Press, 617-637. 

Jablonski E.G. and De Luca M. (1982) Analytical applications of bioluminescence marine bacterial system, in Clinical and biochemical luminescence, (ed. L.J. Kricka and T.J.N. Carter), Dekker, New York, 75-87. 

Of all the applications of bioluminescence, that of the firefly reaction is by far the most important. 

Schram, E., and Stanley, P., (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Analytical Applications of Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, State Printing and Publishing Inc., Westlake Village Calif. 1979... 

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