Gene Cloning and Functional Analysis of the Luciferase from Luminous Syllids of the Genus Odontosyllis.

The marine fireworm Odontosyllis spp. produce the bluish-green bioluminescence (BL). Despite years of research, molecular mechanisms of this unique luciferin-luciferase reaction have not been elucidated. Recently, the genes encoding luciferases of O. undecimdonta and O. enopla have been identified. Here, we describe gene cloning techniques for the luciferase of Odontosyllis spp. from a small number of specimens using highly sensitive mass spectrometry analysis in combination with RNA-sequencing. The luciferase activities of the cloned cDNAs are confirmed by BL assay in vitro using recombinant protein expressed in mammalian cells.