The Application of Bacterial Luciferase as a Reporter Gene in Mycobacteria

Bioluminescence is the product of two distinct enzymes, firefly luciferase and bacterial luciferase. The application of the firefly enzyme in the study of mycobacteria has been described by other groups (1 ,2 ) (see Chapter 31 ). The bacterial-luciferase enzyme is a drmer of approx 80 kDa, consisting of an α- and β-subunit (3 ,4 ). It catalyzes the oxidation of long-chain fatty acids (>7 carbons) and reduced riboflavin, generating blue-green light (λ = 490 nm) in the process. The reaction can be written as follows: FMNH₂ + RCHO + O₂ → FMN + H₂ O + RCOOH + Light