Sandbox Reserved 951: Difference between revisions

Firefly, also named Photinus pyralis, is a bioluminescent insect. They are able to produce light by an energetic process, in order to attract its mate. The enzyme responsible of this light producing is luciferase, also known as luciferin-4-monooxygenase (EC: 1.13.12.7). It acts also as a ligase. This enzyme has various applications in the biotechnology field. In fact, it is used in chemical biology and drug trials. As there is no light production by mammals, luciferase is really a great tool for researchers. But this light emission depends on the environmental conditions. For example, they help to detect protein-protein interactions, to track cells in vivo in order to analysis the development of disease at the molecular level in real-time , to monitor the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of specific gens, to control apoptosis, to label cancer cells, to detect environmental contaminations … <ref [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958166904001715]</ref>