In Vitro Synthesis of Subunits of Bacterial Luciferase in an Escherichia coli System

Abstract

RNA extracted from the luminescent bacterium Vibrio harveyi was translated in an Escherichia coli system. RNA from highly luminescent cells produced both α and β subunits of luciferase in vitro, as confirmed by immunoprecipitation and partial proteolysis. RNA from cells before induction of luminescence did not direct luciferase synthesis.