Synthesis of enzymatically active firefly luciferase in yeast.

Abstract

A recombinant plasmid containing a DNA segment complementary to the mRNA of the North American firefly, Photinus pyralis, luciferase was constructed and cloned into Escherichia coli. The cDNA was inserted into a yeast expression vector, AAH5, designed to express active luciferase under the control of the yeast alcohol dehydrogenase promoter. When introduced into the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the resultant plasmid directed the synthesis of enzymatically active firefly luciferase, the activity of which was inhibited by antiserum raised against the purified firefly luciferase.