Oatp1 enhances bioluminescence by acting as a plasma membrane transporter for D-luciferin.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Bioluminescence imaging is a powerful tool for studying gene expression and cell migration in intact living organisms. However, production of bioluminescence by cells transfected to express luciferase can be limited by the rate of plasma membrane transport of its substrate D-luciferin. We sought to identify a plasma membrane transporter for D-luciferin that could be expressed alongside luciferase to increase transmembrane flux of its substrate and thereby increase light output.

Procedures

Luciferase-expressing cells were transfected with a lentivirus encoding the rat reno-hepatic organic anion transporter protein, Oatp1, which was identified as a potential transporter for D-luciferin. Light output was compared between cells expressing luciferase and those also expres

SUBMITTER: Patrick PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4161938 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature