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​Immunodetection of Reporter Genes Using Anti-Luciferase Antibodies (Photinus pyralis)

Reporter gene technology is a cornerstone of modern molecular biology, enabling precise studies of gene expression and regulation. One of the most effective tools in reporter gene analysis is the luciferase gene from Photinus pyralis (firefly), widely used for its high sensitivity and quantitative output.


To further enhance detection and localization of reporter gene expression, immunodetection offers a powerful complementary approach. By using research-grade anti-luciferase antibodies, scientists can visualize reporter protein distribution via immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and ELISA.

What is Luciferase?

Luciferase is an enzyme that catalyzes a light-emitting reaction. In research, it is used as a reporter gene, meaning it is inserted into cells alongside a gene of interest. When the target gene is active, luciferase is produced and emits measurable light—usually in luminescence assays.

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What are Luciferase Antibodies Used For?

Instead of relying solely on the light emitted by luciferase, scientists often use anti-luciferase antibodies to:

  • Detect luciferase protein using immunoassays (e.g., Western blot, ELISA)
  • Localize luciferase expression in tissues or cells via immunohistochemistry (IHC)
  • Enhance signal using biotin-avidin systems or secondary antibodies
  • Verify expression when luminescence is too low to detect directly

Types of Luciferase Antibodies

  1. Primary Antibodies
    • Directly bind to luciferase (e.g., anti-Photinus pyralis luciferase)
    • Available from goat, rabbit, or mouse
  2. Conjugated Antibodies
    • Fluorescein-conjugated for fluorescence detection
    • Biotin-conjugated for signal amplification with streptavidin or avidin
  3. Magnetizable Antibodies
    • Bound to magnetic particles (like MagaPhase™) for purification or cell separation

 Anti-luciferase antibodies allow indirect detection of luciferase-expressing cells, especially when enzymatic assays are insufficient. Cortex Biochem provides affinity-purified anti-luciferase antibodies sourced from two species (goat and rabbit), ensuring flexibility for multi-labeling experiments and minimizing background noise.

 Key Features:

  • Affinity Purified: Ensures high specificity and low cross-reactivity
  • Fluorescein Conjugated: For direct fluorescent imaging
  • Biotin Conjugated: Compatible with avidin- and streptavidin-based signal amplification
  • MagaPhase™ Magnetizable Particles: Enable magnetic separation and enrichment of target proteins

Why Choose Anti-Luciferase Antibodies?


 

Expand Your Toolkit: Supporting Reagents and Antibody Formats

In addition to anti-luciferase reagents, Cortex Biochem offers a comprehensive range of products for reporter gene immunodetection and signal enhancement:

  • Affinity Purified Secondary Antibodies
  • F(ab')2 Fragments of Affinity-Purified Antibodies – ideal for reducing Fc receptor binding
  • Avidin, Streptavidin, and Bridging Reagents – for robust signal amplification
  • Immunoglobulins and Fragments – customizable options for your detection systems

Learn more

 Applications:

  • Reporter Gene Assays
  • Gene Expression Studies
  • Cellular Localization via Immunohistochemistry
  • Infections Marker Analysis
  • High-Sensitivity Signal Amplification

Whether you're studying transcriptional activity, validating gene knock-ins, or conducting cell signaling research, our anti-luciferase (Photinus pyralis) antibodies provide unmatched sensitivity and reproducibility.

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  Types of Luciferase Antibodies

01

a purple and green string sculpture on a white surface1. Primary Luciferase Antibodies

These are antibodies that directly recognize and bind to luciferase proteins, such as the commonly used Photinus pyralis (firefly) luciferase. They are essential for detecting the presence of the luciferase protein in cells, tissues, or lysates.

🔹 Key Features:

  • Species of origin: Typically raised in goat, rabbit, or mouse, giving researchers flexibility based on experimental needs and compatibility with secondary antibodies.
  • Affinity purified: Many are affinity-purified to ensure high specificity and low background noise.
  • Applications: Ideal for Western blot, immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and ELISA.

 

02

a bunch of blue and green flowers on a gray background

Conjugated Luciferase Antibodies

These are luciferase-specific antibodies pre-labeled with a detectable molecule or tag, eliminating the need for a separate secondary antibody.

🔹 Types of Conjugations:

✅ Fluorescein-Conjugated Antibodies

  • Conjugated with FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) or similar fluorescent dyes.
  • Enable direct detection using fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry.
  • Useful for co-localization studies or multicolor assays.

✅ Biotin-Conjugated Antibodies

  • Tagged with biotin, a small molecule with a strong affinity for streptavidin or avidin.
  • Commonly used in amplification systems where biotin-labeled antibodies bind to streptavidin-HRP or streptavidin-fluorophores for signal enhancement.
  • Excellent for low-abundance targets, increasing assay sensitivity.


03

a group of multicolored flowers floating in the air

Magnetizable Luciferase Antibodies (MagaPhase™)

These innovative antibodies are attached to magnetic beads (like MagaPhase™ magnetizable particles), combining specificity with ease of separation.

🔹 Advantages:

  • Allow magnetic isolation of luciferase-expressing cells or proteins from complex mixtures.
  • Can be used in protein purification, cell sorting, and target enrichment.
  • Reduce assay time by enabling non-centrifugal separation with a magnetic field.
  • Useful in both manual and automated workflows.

🔹 Applications:

  • Pull-down assays (e.g., immunoprecipitation with magnetic beads)
  • Immunocapture of luciferase-tagged fusion proteins
  • Isolation of luciferase-expressing cell populations

 

Luciferase antibodies are essential tools for advancing reporter gene analysis, offering sensitive, specific detection of luciferase expression at the protein level. Whether you're performing basic research, high-throughput screening, or protein purification, selecting the right type—primary, conjugated, or magnetizable—can significantly enhance your results. With options like fluorescein and biotin labeling, and MagaPhase™ magnetic particles, these antibodies provide flexibility across a wide range of molecular and cellular applications.

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