Nonisotopic Assays for Reporter Gene Activity

This unit describes two nonisotopic systems for reporter gene activity in cells transfected with the firefly luciferase expression plasmid or the beta-galactosidase expression plasmid. Both of these chemiluminescent assays have the advantages of high sensitivity and broad linear range. In the chemiluminescent detection procedures given in this unit, both luciferase activity and beta-galactosidase activity can be measured with either a luminometer or a scintillation counter.