Description
Key facts
Assay Platform:Microplate reader
Product details:
Gaussia Luciferase is a new reporter gene isolated from the marine copepod
Gaussia princeps
. Gaussia luciferase can be expressed in mammalian cells using commercially available reporter plasmids. This luciferase, which does not require ATP, catalyzes the oxidation of the substrate coelenterazine in a reaction that emits light (at 470 nm), and has considerable advantages over other reporter genes.
Gaussia
Luciferase possesses a natural secretory signal and upon expression is secreted into the cell medium of cells grown in culture. Therefore, cell lysis is not necessary for assaying expression levels. In addition, the gene product has a molecular weight of only 19.9 kD (185 AA) making it one of the smallest known luciferases. The enzyme also has a broad pH optimum centered at 7.7, with activity dependent upon the concentration of monovalent cations. The enzyme is resistant to decomposition due to exposure to heat, cold, strongly acidic or basic conditions. Analysis of the gene sequence indicates a secretory signal that functions in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Most importantly,
Gaussia
luciferase is reported to generate over 1000-fold higher bioluminescent signal intensity, compared to Firefly and
Renilla
Luciferases, making it an ideal transcriptional reporter for cell culture assays. The secreted protein is very stable and can be stored for several days at 4°C without significant loss of activity. The substrate, coelenterazine, is common to a number of marine bioluminescent reactions, including those from
Renilla
Aequorea
Watesenia
. In some of these reactions it is utilized as a simple substrate being catalytically turned over in the bioluminescent reaction, while in others, such as in the photoprotein systems of Mneiopsis, it is incorporated as part of the photoprotein.
Emission: 470 nm.
Abcam’s Gaussia Luciferase Cellular Assay Kit (ab189814) contains enough reagents for 100 tests using a microtiterplate format and includes buffers, solvents and a detailed protocol for use in quickly measuring the luciferase activity in mammalian cell culture.
Properties and Storage Information:
Shipped at conditions-Blue Ice, Appropriate short-term storage conditions-Multi, Appropriate long-term storage conditions-Multi, Storage information-Please refer to protocols
Supplementary Information:
This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.
Gaussia luciferase also known by alternate names such as 'Gaussia princeps' and 'luc assay' is a small marine bioluminescent enzyme weighing approximately 19.9 kDa. It originates from the marine copepod Gaussia princeps and is widely used in molecular biology. This enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of coelenterazine to produce light which is a valuable property in biochemical assays and imaging. In its native environment Gaussia luciferase helps generate light in the ocean playing a significant role in the copepod's survival and communication.
Biological function summary
Enzyme-based luminescence assists in cellular signaling and detection processes. Often Gaussia luciferase is utilized as a reporter gene because of its high sensitivity and secretion into the surrounding medium which allows for non-invasive monitoring of biological events in real time. It associates with the substrate coelenterazine forming a momentary complex during the light-producing reaction. Researchers prefer Gaussia luciferase due to its efficient light emission and stability which outperforms other luciferases making it ideal for tracking gene expression and protein-protein interactions.
Pathways
Gaussia luciferase is integral in cellular signaling and detection applications. It often integrates into pathways related to gene regulation and expression monitoring. Researchers can use Gaussia luciferase in conjunction with the Akt signaling pathway to study kinase activity. It shares functional similarities with other luciferases like Renilla luciferase serving as an alternative choice for investigating coupled pathways in cellular assays especially those needing high sensitivity and dynamic range.
Researchers study Gaussia luciferase as a tool to understand cancer biology and infectious diseases. In cancer scientists employ it to monitor the expression of oncogenes and marker proteins such as p53. Its application provides insights into disease progression and response to therapy making it extremely valuable for drug discovery and development. Additionally in infectious diseases Gaussia luciferase acts as an indicator for viral replication and pathogenic studies often linked with proteins like HIV-1 Tat enhancing the understanding of virus-host interactions.
