Description
Coelenterazine is a luciferin-related compound found in aquatic organisms; it is oxidized by Renilla luciferase, an enzyme derived from the sea pansy, and this reaction can be used to measure a variety of activities in cellular or animal models when luciferase is used as a reporter gene. Coelenterazine is one of two components of aequorin, a calcium-sensitive photoprotein found in bioluminescent jellyfish. During the oxidation, peak light emission occurs at approximately 469 nm, yielding a blue color. Because coelenterazine oxidizes in organic solvents such as DMSO, it is preferably stored in methanol or with inert gases.