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Bioluminescence imaging in mice with synthetic luciferin analogues
Xincai Ji1, Spencer T Adams1, Stephen C Miller1
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.
Abstract:
Luciferase enzymes from bioluminescent organisms can be expressed in mice, enabling these rodents to glow when treated with a corresponding luciferin substrate. Light emission occurs where the expression of the genetically-encoded luciferase overlaps with the biodistribution of the administered small molecule luciferin. Here we discuss differences between firefly luciferin analogues for bioluminescence imaging, focusing on transgenic and adeno-associated virus (AAV)-transduced mice.

