Team:Cambridge/Bioluminescence/Photinus pyralis

Photinus pyralis (source)

We are investigating a number of firefly luciferases. As a comparison for our future experiments we will begin by cloning the existing Biobrick for [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_I712019 wild type P. pyralis luciferase] into our strains of interest.

Our project will focus on characterising both this existing luciferase and those we hope to submit to the registry:

• An enhanced P. pyralis luciferase with increased brightness
• A number of differently coloured versions of L. cruciata luciferase

We intend to synthesise these luciferases on operons also containing the LRE for the firefly species in question, and then to quantify a PoPS-to-photons function.