Isolated luciferases and the use thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to the nucleotide and amino acid sequences, and to the activity and use, of the luciferases LuAL, Lu164, Lu16, Lu39, Lu45, Lu52 and Lu22.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A DNA or RNA molecule having the sequence for the luciferase LuAL, Lul 64, Lul 6, Lu39, Lu45, Lu52 or Lu22 or a functional equivalent thereof. 
     
     
         2 . A molecule as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the sequence contains a functional promoter located 5′ to the sequence. 
     
     
         3 . A molecule as claimed in  claim 2  which is a component of a recombinant DNA or RNA vector. 
     
     
         4 . An organism which harbors a vector as described in  claim 3 . 
     
     
         5 . An oligonucleotide which contains more than 10 consecutive nucleotides which are identical or complementary to the DNA or RNA sequence. 
     
     
         6 . A peptide which is encoded by a nucleotide sequence as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A peptide which contains more than 5 consecutive amino acids which are immunologically recognized by antibodies directed against Lul 64, LuAL or Lu22. 
     
     
         8 . The use of the luciferases as claimed in  claim 1  as reporter genes for cellular systems.