Luciferase is a generic term for the class of oxidative enzymes that produce bioluminescence, and is usually distinguished from a photoprotein. The name was first used by Raphaël Dubois who invented the words luciferin and luciferase, for the substrate and enzyme, respectively.[1] Both words are derived from the Latin word lucifer, meaning "lightbearer", which in turn is derived from the Latin words for "light" (lux) and "to bring or carry" (ferre).[2]
Quick Facts Firefly luciferase, Identifiers ...
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Quick Facts Bacterial Luciferase monooxygenase family, Identifiers ...
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Quick Facts Dinoflagellate Luciferase catalytic domain, Identifiers ...
Dinoflagellate Luciferase catalytic domain |
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crystal structure of a luciferase domain from the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum |
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Symbol | Luciferase_cat |
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Pfam | PF10285 |
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InterPro | IPR018804 |
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Quick Facts Dinoflagellate Luciferase/LBP N-terminal domain, Identifiers ...
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Quick Facts Dinoflagellate Luciferase helical bundle domain, Identifiers ...
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Luciferases are widely used in biotechnology, for bioluminescence imaging[3] microscopy and as reporter genes, for many of the same applications as fluorescent proteins. However, unlike fluorescent proteins, luciferases do not require an external light source, but do require addition of luciferin, the consumable substrate.