Bioluminescence Glossary

Bioluminescence

The production of light through a biochemical reaction, typically catalyzed by a luciferase acting on a substrate, and widely used for highly sensitive biological measurements.

Learn more: Bioluminescence Technologies  •  Bioluminescence FAQ

Reporter Gene

A gene encoding an easily detectable protein, such as a luciferase, used to monitor gene expression, signaling pathways or biological events.

Learn more: Bioluminescence Technologies  •  Hikarazine™ Z108

Bioluminescence Imaging (BLI)

Technique d’imagerie reposant sur la détection de lumière produite par une réaction bioluminescente afin de visualiser des processus biologiques, notamment in vivo.

Learn more: Bioluminescence Technologies  •  Bioluminescence FAQ  •  Hikarazine™ Z108

Bioluminescence Immunoassay

An immunoassay in which target detection relies on a bioluminescent signal, enabling sensitive measurements with low background noise.

Learn more: Bioluminescence Technologies  •  Services  •  Bioluminescence FAQ

Luciferase

An enzyme that catalyzes a light-producing reaction in the presence of a suitable substrate, generally called a luciferin.

Learn more: Bioluminescence Technologies  •  Bioluminescence FAQ  •  Hikarazine™ Z108

Luciferin

A substrate molecule oxidized in a luciferase-catalyzed reaction, resulting in photon emission and the production of light.

PLearn more: Bioluminescence Technologies  •  Hikarazine™ Z103  •  Hikarazine™ Z108

Bioluminescent Pro-Substrate

A stable precursor of a bioluminescent substrate that is activated before use to generate the form utilized by the luciferase.

Learn more: Hikarazine™ Z103  •  Hikarazine™ Z108  •  Bioluminescence FAQ

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)

The ratio between the useful signal intensity and background noise; a higher ratio improves the ability to distinguish and quantify a biological signal.

Learn more: Bioluminescence Technologies • Bioluminescence FAQ • Hikarazine™ Z103

Luciferase Substrate

A chemical compound used by a luciferase to generate a measurable light signal in a bioluminescence assay or experiment.

Learn more: Bioluminescence Technologies  •  Hikarazine™ Z103  •  Hikarazine™ Z108

Bioluminescence Assay

A biological assay that uses a light-emitting reaction to detect, quantify or monitor a biological activity or target.

Learn more: Bioluminescence Technologies  •  Bioluminescence FAQ  •  Hikarazine™ Z108

Reporter Assay

An assay using a reporter gene or protein to convert a biological event into a measurable signal, such as light emission.

Learn more: Bioluminescence Technologies  •  Hikarazine™ Z108  •  Bioluminescence FAQ

Microplate Reader

An instrument used to measure biological or chemical signals in multiwell plates, including absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence.

Learn more: Bioanalytics Life Science Solutions

Multimode Microplate Reader

A microplate reader combining several detection modes, such as absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence, in a single instrument.

Learn more: Bioanalytics Life Science Solutions

Luminometer

An instrument designed to sensitively measure light emitted by luminescent or bioluminescent reactions.

Learn more: Bioanalytics Life Science Solutions