Bioluminescence

This chapter focuses on bioluminescent imaging in vivo and how the development of modern luciferase systems enable this goal. A diverse set of organisms naturally emit light using endogenous chemical pathways. Modern biotechnology has exploited this luminescent biochemistry to extend our understanding of the natural world, dissect disease processes, and generate novel medications. In contrast to the Fluc system discussed, the bacterial lux system enables an alternative imaging approach, whereby the pathway producing the luciferin is genetically encoded and delivered into the target cells alongside the luciferase itself. The luciferase reactions discussed have been controlled genetically, in which the presence of the luciferase is a result of promoter activation or defined by the start of luciferin administration.