title: Enabling Aequorin for Biotechnology Applications Through Genetic Engineering.
abstract: In recent years, luminescent proteins have been studied for their potential application in a variety of detection systems. Bioluminescent proteins, which do not require an external excitation source, are especially well-suited as reporters in analytical detection. The photoprotein aequorin is a bioluminescent protein that can be engineered for use as a molecular reporter under a wide range of conditions while maintaining its sensitivity. Herein, the characteristics of aequorin as well as the engineering and production of aequorin variants and their impact on signal detection in biological systems are presented. The structural features and activity of aequorin, its benefits as a label for sensing and applications in highly sensitive detection, as well as in gaining insight into biological processes are discussed. Among those, focus has been placed on the highly sensitive calcium detection in vivo, in vitro DNA and small molecule sensing, and development of in vivo imaging technologies. Graphical Abstract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grinstead
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Smita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zingg
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dikici
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA. SDaunert@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daunert
keywords: Aequorin; Bioluminescence; Calcium; ELISA; Imaging; Mutagenesis; Whole-cell assays