Firefly Luciferase mRNA (Cap-1; mo⁵U)

Firefly Luciferase mRNA (Cap-1; mo5U) encodes for luciferase, a protein originally isolated from the firefly P. pyralis, that catalyzes the ATP-dependent oxidation of the molecule luciferin resulting in chemiluminescence at a wavelength of approximately 560 nm.^1,2 It is capped using a co-transcriptional capping method, resulting in the naturally occurring Cap 1 structure with high capping efficiency. Firefly Luciferase mRNA is also polyadenylated and modified with 5-methyoxy-UTP (mo⁵U) to the reduce host cell immune response and enhance mRNA stability. Encapsulation of Firefly Luciferase mRNA (mo⁵U) in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) can be used for mRNA delivery and expression of luciferase protein in vitro or in vivo.^3,4

WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

1. Baldwin, T.O. Firefly luciferase: The structure is known, but the mystery remains. Structure 4(3), 223-228 (1996).

2. Zhang, G., Gurtu, V., and Kain, S.R. An enhanced green fluorescent protein allows sensitive detection of gene transfer in mammalian cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 227(3), 707-711 (1996).

3. Zhang, Y., Xi, X., Yu, H., et al. Chemically modified in-vitro-transcribed mRNA encoding thrombopoietin stimulates thrombopoiesis in mice. Mol. Ther. Nucleic Acids 29, 657-671 (2022).

4. Zhao, P., Tian, Y., Lu, Y., et al. Biomimetic calcium carbonate nanoparticles delivered IL-12 mRNA for targeted glioblastoma sono-immunotherapy by ultrasound-induced necroptosis. J. Nanobiotechnology 20(1), 525 (2022).