Reporter gene luciferase in application of scientific research

OBJECTIVE:To review advances of reporter gene luciferase in the new progress in the scientific research.METHODS: Luciferase-related literature was retrieved in PubMed and cnki from 1996.1 to 2007.12.key words were reporter gene and luciferase,and 617 articals were got together.The included criteria: 1) Luciferase biological characteristics.2) Luciferase application as reporter gene.Fifty-five papers were further studied,and of which references were looked for.Finally 19 documents were reviewed.RESULTS: Luciferases are enzymes that emit light in the presence of oxygen and a substrate(luciferin),and which are highly specific and have high sensitivity,and in the absence of excitation light,they have non-specific interference,so the signal-noise ratio is high.They have irreplaceable advantages to other reporter genes.They have been widely used for real-time,low-light imaging of gene expression in cell cultures,individual cells,whole organisms,and transgenic organisms.It is a very practical research method.CONCLUSION: Luciferase as a reporter gene has shown good prospects,it has yet become an important tool in the scientific research fields,and has promoted the genetic engineering research in particular.