Multi-color luciferases as reporters for monitoring transient gene expression in higher plants

Abstract

To investigate the usefulness of multi-color luciferase technology as reporter genes in higher plants, we assayed the transient expression of click beetle luciferase genes introduced into plant cells by microprojectile bombardment. Although their expression levels were relatively low, luminescence from green and red luciferases were separable under the CCD camera equipped with interference filters. Results of time-course experiments and the inducible promoter assay suggest that the multi-color luciferase system optimized primarily for mammalian cells is also applicable to monitor reporter activities in plant cells.