Luciferase Imaging

Promoter::Luciferase system is a powerful tool for monitoring gene expression. This system allows us to analyze real-time gene expressions and provides us quantitative data. Here I show luminescence rhythms of plants carrying pCCA1::LUC, pLHY::LUC, pCAB2::LUC or pCCR2::LUC. The CCA1 and LHY are morning genes. The peak of CAB2 and CCR2 expressions are daytime and dusk, respectively. The luminescence rhythms were monitored under LL. Here we can see the circadian rhythms of gene expressions. I employed this technology to investigate plant circadian systems, including phytohormone-the clock interactions (Hanano S et. al., 2006). For the details of this technology, see the reference (Southern MM and Millar AJ, 2005).

The top and bottom are light field and luciferase image, respectively.

Left to right: pCCA1::LUC, pLHY::LUC, pCAB2::LUC and pCCR2::LUC plants