Assay of Cypridina Luciferin

The amount of Cypridina luciferin is measured with Cypridina luciferase. To measure the content of Cypridina luciferin in a tissue, the sample is extracted with methanol in the same manner as in the case of coelenterazine (Section C5.1). However, the extracted Cypridina luciferin is extremely unstable in air. Therefore, it is necessary to 

Cypridina luciferase is not available commercially at present. However, Cypridina luciferase can be readily extracted from both live and dried Cypridina, and the crude extract, after dialysis, can be used in the measurement of Cypridina luciferin. Live Cypridina can be collected in Japan, and the ostracod can be cultivated in laboratory (see the last part of Section 3.1.2). Dried Cypridina is available from certain sources, including the author s laboratory. 

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