Abstract: The present invention encompasses modified luciferases, methods for making modified luciferases, and assays utilizing modified luciferases. Modified luciferases of the invention show increased activity over wildtype luciferases and also show increased stability of signal. The present invention also encompasses multiplex assays utilizing multiple luciferases with different emission spectra.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses modified luciferases, methods for making modified luciferases, and assays utilizing modified luciferases. Modified luciferases of the invention show increased activity over wildtype luciferases and also show increased stability of signal. The present invention also encompasses multiplex assays utilizing multiple luciferases reporters with different emission spectra and different substrates for simultaneous luciferase measurements.

Abstract: Luciferase enzymes with greatly increased thermostability, e.g., at least half lives of 2 hours at 50° C., cDNAs encoding the novel luciferases, and hosts transformed to express the luciferases, are disclosed. Methods of producing the luciferases include recursive mutagenesis. The luciferases are used in conventional methods, some employing kits.

Abstract: Luciferase enzymes with greatly increased thermostability, e.g., at least half lives of 2 hours at 50° C., cDNAs encoding the novel luciferases, and hosts transformed to express the luciferases, are disclosed. Methods of producing the luciferases include recursive mutagenesis. The luciferases are used in conventional methods, some employing kits.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a mutant luciferase having luciferase activity with an altered emission spectrum. A specific amino acid residue(s) is substituted in a luciferase derived from Cypridina noctiluca and then the resulting mutant luciferase having luciferase activity with an emission spectrum differing from that of the wild-type luciferase is screened for.

Abstract: A process for reversible chemical modification of the luciferase, a process for the covalent conjugation of a reversibly modified luciferase to a chemical moiety (a protein or a binding partner such as biotin or an antibody), a process for reactivation of the reversibly-modified and inactivated luciferase, a process for making the said luciferase conjugates and a bioluminescent assay method that uses covalently conjugated firefly luciferase are taught. The present invention also relates to a composition comprising a reversibly modified luciferase, as well as a composition comprising a reversibly modified luciferase covalently conjugated to a chemical moiety.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a mutant luciferase having luciferase activity with an altered emission spectrum. A specific amino acid residue(s) is substituted in a luciferase derived from Cypridina noctiluca and then the resulting mutant luciferase having luciferase activity with an emission spectrum differing from that of the wild-type luciferase is screened for.

Abstract: Luciferase enzymes with greatly increased thermostability, e.g., at least half lives of 2 hours at 50° C., cDNAs encoding the novel luciferases, and hosts transformed to express the luciferases, are disclosed. Methods of producing the luciferases include recursive mutagenesis. The luciferases are used in conventional methods, some employing kits.

Abstract: The present invention provides industrially useful luciferase. Mutant luciferase of the invention is produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Escherichia which harbors a recombinant DNA containing the mutant luciferase gene of a firefly. Mutant luciferase can produce red, orange or green color of light which can not be produced by wild type luciferase. Mutant luciferase can be used to measure ATP accurately in a colored solution such as red (e.g., blood), orange, or green in which wild-type luciferase has not provided reliable results.

Abstract: Luciferase enzymes with greatly increased thermostability, e.g., at least half lives of 2 hours at 50° C., cDNAs encoding the novel luciferases, and hosts transformed to express the luciferases, are disclosed. Methods of producing the luciferases include recursive mutagenesis. The luciferases are used in conventional methods, some employing kits.

Abstract: A firefly luciferase having the amino acid sequence of firefly luciferase, wherein the amino acid corresponding to position 287 of Heike firefly luciferase is replaced with alanine, or wherein the amino acid corresponding to position 392 is replaced with isoleucine. The firefly luciferase has improved thermostability and storage stability. A firefly luciferase gene coding for the firefly luciferase. By utilizing this gene, it is possible to efficiently produce firefly luciferase with increased stability. It is also possible to obtain firefly luciferase with further increased stability by combination with a mutation in which the amino acid at position 326 is replaced with serine, and/or a mutation in which the amino acid at position 467 is replaced with isoleucine.

Abstract: An isolated recombinant luciferase having luciferase activity. The recombinant luciferase has an amino acid sequence which differs from the wild-type luciferase from Photinus pyralis, Luciola mingrelica, Luciola cruciata, Luciola lateralis, Hotaria parvula, Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus, Lampyris noctiluca, Pyrocoelia miyako or Photinus pennsylvanica. In the sequence of the recombinant luciferase, the amino acid residue corresponding to phenylalanine 295 in Photinus pyralis wild-type luciferase or to leucine 297 in Luciola mingrelica, Luciola cruciata or Luciola lateralis wild-type luciferases, is mutated compared to the corresponding amino acid which appears in the corresponding wild-type luciferase sequence. The recombinant luciferase has increased thermostability compared to the corresponding wild-type luciferase.

Abstract: Luciferase enzymes with greatly increased thermostability, e.g., at least half lives of 2 hours at 50° C., cDNAs encoding the novel luciferases, and hosts transformed to express the luciferases, are disclosed. Methods of producing the luciferases include recursive mutagenesis. The luciferases are used in conventional methods, some employing kits.

Abstract: An isolated recombinant luciferase having luciferase activity. The recombinant luciferase has an amino acid sequence which differs from the wild-type luciferase from Photinus pyralis, Luciola mingrelica, Luciola cruciata, Luciola lateralis, Hotaria parvula, Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus, Lampyris noctiluca, Pyrocoelia miyako or Photinus pennsylvanica. In the sequence of the recombinant luciferase, the amino acid residue corresponding to phenylalanine 295 in Photinus pyralis wild-type luciferase or to leucine 297 in Luciola mingrelica, Luciola cruciata or Luciola lateralis wild-type luciferases, is mutated compared to the corresponding amino acid which appears in the corresponding wild-type luciferase sequence. The recombinant luciferase has increased thermostability compared to the corresponding wild-type luciferase.

Abstract: An isolated recombinant luciferase having luciferase activity. The recombinant luciferase has an amino acid sequence which differs from the wild-type luciferase from Phtotinus pyralis, Luciola mingrelica, Luciola cruciata, Luciola lateralis, Hotaria parvula, Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus, Lampyris noctiluca, Pyrocoelia miyako or Photinus pennsylvanica. In the seguence of the recombinant luciferase, the amino acid residue corresponding to phenylalanine 295 in Photinus pyralis wild-type luciferase or to leucine 297 in Luciola mingrelica, Luciola cruciata or Luciola lateralis wild-type luciferases, is mutated compared to the corresponding amino acid which appears in the corresponding wild-type luciferase sequence. The recombinant luciferase has increased thermostability compared to the corresponding wild-type luciferase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermostable luciferase of firefly wherein an amino acid at the 217-position of the amino acid sequence of wild-type firefly luciferase or an amino acid equivalent to the amino acid at the 217-position of luciferase of GENJI firefly or HEIKE firefly is converted into a hydrophobic amino acid, a gene encoding said thermostable luciferase, a vector comprising the gene encoding said thermostable luciferase inserted therein, and a process for the preparation of thermostable firefly luciferase comprising use of said vector.

Abstract: The present invention provides industrially useful luciferase. Mutant luciferase of the invention is produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Escherichia which harbors a recombinant DNA containing the mutant luciferase gene of a firefly. Mutant luciferase can produce red, orange or green color of light which can not be produced by wild type luciferase. Mutant luciferase can be used to measure ATP accurately in a colored solution such as red (e.g., blood), orange, or green in which wild-type luciferase has not provided reliable results.

Abstract: An isolated recombinant luciferase having luciferase activity. The recombinant luciferase has an amino acid sequence which differs from the wild-type luciferase from Photinus pyralis, Luciola mingrelica, Luciola cruciata, Luciola lateralis, Hotaria parvula, Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus, Lampyris noctiluca, Pyrocoelia miyako or Photinus pennsylvanica. In the sequence of the recombinant luciferase, the amino acid residue corresponding to phenylalanine 295 in Photinus pyralis wild-type luciferase or to leucine 297 in Luciola mingrelica, Luciola cruciata or Luciola lateralis wild-type luciferases, is mutated compared to the corresponding amino acid which appears in the corresponding wild-type luciferase sequence. The recombinant luciferase has increased thermostability compared to the corresponding wild-type luciferase.

Abstract: A luciferase gene isolated from Luciola cruciata (Japanese firefly) coding for an amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 4 and a novel recombinant DNA characterized by incorporating a gene coding for luciferase into a vector DNA are disclosed. There is also disclosed a method of producing luciferase which comprises culturing in a medium a microorganism containing a recombinant DNA having inserted a gene coding for luciferase in a vector DNA and belonging to the genus Escherichia capable of producing luciferase and collecting luciferase from the culture.

Abstract: The invention comprises modified luciferase proteins which are more resistant to inhibition by test chemicals than wild type luciferase. The modified luciferases also contain greater thermostability than wild type luciferase.