Firefly Luciferase-Structure and Function

Abstract

In order to better understand the enzymatic structure and function of firefly luciferase, the cDNA encoding this protein was recently cloned. In this report we present the extension of our earlier work with the cloning of several luciferases from a bioluminescent click beetle (Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus). The luciferases of this beetle produce bioluminescence of different colors. We isolated 13 cDNA clones which were capable of producing luminescence in E. coli of four different colors: green, yellow-green, yellow, and orange. The amino acid sequence of these luciferases are approximately 96% identical with each other, but are less than 50% identical with the firefly luciferase. Keywords: Codon DNA, Bioluminescence, Click beetle, Luciferase, Reprints.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA198292

Entities

People

  • W. D. Mcelroy

Organizations

  • University of California, San Diego

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amino Acids
  • Bioluminescence
  • California
  • Chemical Properties
  • Chemistry
  • Coding
  • Culture Techniques
  • Enzymes
  • Gel Electrophoresis
  • Genetic Structures
  • Luminescence
  • Military Research
  • Notation
  • Security
  • Sequences
  • Symbols
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Chemistry (specifically Chemical Fluorescence)
  • Molecular Genetics