Table 1.
Commonly used luciferase reporter systems. Information on some of the available luciferases for use in in vivo optical imaging experiments, including sources, emission wavelengths, substrates, and selective advantages for each.
| Source | Emission wavelength (nm) | Substrate | Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacteria (Vibrio and Photobacterium species) |
478–545 (dependent on species) |
FMNH2 + O2 + long chain fatty aldehyde | Exogenous substrate not required |
| Firefly (Photinus pyralis) |
560 | D-luciferin + ATP + O2 | Most commonly used and modified for red-shifted emission |
| Sea pansy (Renilla reniformis) |
480 | Coelenterazine + O2 | Different substrate allows multiplexing with firefly luciferase |
| Copepods (Gaussia princeps and others) |
470 | Coelenterazine + O2 | Small size and secreted |
| Deep-sea shrimp (Oplophorus gracilirostris) |
460 | Furimazine + O2 | Small size and secreted |