Light it up: Illuminating Research with INDIGO's Luciferase Reporter Assays

Did you know? Fireflies are among the most efficient light sources in the world: 100% of the energy they use is converted into light. By comparison, a conventional incandescent bulb converts only about 10% of its energy into light, with the majority lost as heat [1]. Because fireflies generate virtually no heat, scientists refer to this phenomenon as “cold light”. Researchers have long taken advantage of this remarkable property – for example, to detect metabolic diseases, conduct cancer research, search for life on Mars, perform forensic analyses, and identify food contamination [2]. The phenomenon behind this process, known as bioluminescence, is driven by a group of enzymes called luciferases. These enzymes catalyze a chemical reaction between the substrate luciferin and oxygen, resulting in the emission of light.

Several groups of luciferases can be distinguished, with the enzymes derived from the firefly Photinus pyralis and the sea pansy Renilla reniformis being among the best studied [3]. INDIGO Biosciences utilizes the P. pyralis enzymes – commonly referred to as firefly luciferases – as reporters in its modern luciferase reporter assays, designed to move your screening forward with confidence. Say goodbye to weeks of cell culture and extensive optimization: thanks to their high sensitivity, INDIGO’s reporter assays deliver high-quality data within just 24 hours.

These topics await you:

1) Ahead of Fluorescence: The Advantages of Luciferase Reporter Assays

2) More Efficient Screening with INDIGO’s Luciferase Technology in Your Workflow:

3) INDIGO Makes It Easy: Thaw, Feed, Dose, Read – Done!

4) Illuminate Your Research with INDIGO

Ahead of Fluorescence: The Advantages of Luciferase Reporter Assays

Bioluminescence-based technologies, such as INDIGO’s firefly luciferase reporter assays, are superior to fluorescence-based assays in many respects. Many test compounds exhibit a degree of autofluorescence, which can lead to elevated background signals and distort quantitative analysis. In contrast, neither mammalian cells nor culture media display intrinsic luminescence. The result is an excellent signal-to-noise ratio, enabling exceptionally high sensitivity and precision [4]. This not only simplifies data analysis but also significantly improves biological interpretation. Particularly in high-throughput screening, this represents a decisive advantage, as false-positive and false-negative signals are reduced to a minimum.

More Efficient Screening with INDIGO’s Luciferase Technology in Your Workflow:

Maximum sensitivity and selectivity: Robustly optimized luciferase assays deliver clear, interference-free signals with minimal background noise.
High reproducibility: Reliable, consistent data ensure confidence and efficiency throughout your screening process.
Precise quantification: Easily measure signals, accurately quantify changes in activity, and translate results into actionable insights.

See for yourself! Here are INDIGO's top 10 luciferase reporter assays:

Reporter Assay	Product Number	Species	Price
GHR Reporter Assay	IB-IB14001	human	from 1.588,00 €
NF-kappaB Reporter Assay	IB-IB09001	human	from 1.588,00 €
MR Reporter Assay	IB-IB00502	human	4.175,00 €
PPARgamma Reporter Assay	IB-IB00101	human	from 1.588,00 €
Nrf2 Reporter Assay	IB-IB10001	human	from 1.588,00 €
FXR Reporter Assay	IB-IB00601	human	from 1.588,00 €
AhR Reporter Assay	IB-IB06001	human	from 1.588,00 €
PXR Reporter Assay	IB-IB07001	human	from 1.588,00 €
CB1R Reporter Assay	IB-IB19001	human	from 1.588,00 €
ERalpha Reporter Assay	IB-IB00401	human	from 1.588,00 €

INDIGO Makes It Easy: Thaw, Feed, Dose, Read – Done!

With the simple protocol of INDIGO’s luciferase reporter assays, meaningful results can be obtained in just four steps within 24 hours (Fig. 1). The assay kits contain reporter cells that constitutively express a specific target receptor. The included luciferase reporter gene is functionally linked to specific response elements, which initiate formation of a complete transcriptional complex and thereby drive luciferase gene expression.

These cryopreserved reporter cells are shipped via overnight delivery together with all required assay reagents – including optimized cell culture medium, a positive control agonist, and a luciferase detection reagent – and are ready for immediate use after thawing. Luciferase transcription is triggered when biologically active test compounds bind to the target receptor. Upon addition of the INDIGlo Luciferase Detection Reagent (LDR) included in the kit, a long-lived luminescence signal is generated that can be precisely quantified using a luminometer [5]. This enables reliable screening of test compounds for agonist or antagonist activity in record time.

Indigo_LRA_Fig1 Figure 1: Fast and reliable screening with INDIGO’s luciferase reporter assays. First, the reporter cell lines are thawed and resuspended in optimized cell culture medium prewarmed to 37 °C (Thaw). The reporter cells are then dispensed onto the assay plate together with the test compounds (Feed). After a 24-hour incubation at 37 °C, the medium is removed and the INDIGlo Luciferase Detection Reagent is added (Dose). The resulting luminescence is finally quantified using a luminometer (Read) [5].

Looking for more detailed guidance? This tutorial provides a concise overview of INDIGO Biosciences’ luciferase reporter assays in a 96-well format, featuring a straightforward protocol with no pre-incubation step.

Illuminate Your Research with INDIGO

INDIGO’s portfolio includes over 200 luciferase reporter assay kits, covering assays for growth and transcription factors, nuclear receptors, G-protein-coupled receptors, and cytokine receptors. Three different formats are available – 3 x 32-, 1 x 96-, and 1 x 384-well assays – allowing you to choose the setup that best fits your needs. Additionally, reagent volumes are fully scalable, enabling custom production of large batches for any type of high-throughput screening. Whether in drug discovery, environmental testing, or studies of disease-related mechanisms, INDIGO’s luciferase reporter assays are widely used across diverse research applications [5].