Luminescence

How does luminescence detection work?

Unlike fluorescence, where a molecule emits light upon excitation by an external light source, luminescence is generated by a chemical or biological reaction, for example an enzyme and its substrate. The resulting light can be detected by a photomultiplier tube (PMT), in which photons are converted to electrons, with the resulting current proportional to the amount of light. Measurement of the signal is expressed as relative light units (RLU).

Learn more about our luminescence reader  

How does a luminometer work?

When a luminescence reaction is set up in a microplate, a luminometer (or luminescence microplate reader), is used to measure the amount of light produced. The microplate is placed in a light-tight read chamber, and light from each well is detected in turn by a PMT. The luminescence readings are expressed as RLU.

In most luminescence applications the total light produced by the sample is measured, without the selection of particular wavelengths. But for other applications like BRET, a luminescence plate reader can be equipped with filters or monochromators that allow the selection of specific wavelengths in order to measure binding or other biomolecular events.

Learn more about the SpectraMax L Microplate Reader  

NanoBRET/BRET

BRET (bioluminescence resonance energy transfer) is a technique for measuring protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions that involves the interaction of a bioluminescent donor and a fluorescent acceptor.

Detection of NanoBRET signals, and analysis of the resulting data, requires sensitive instrumentation and advanced software. Register to learn more:

• Measure p53-MDM2 protein interaction with NanoBRET technology
• NanoBRET Technology on the SpectraMax i3x Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

Single/Dual -Luciferase Reporter Gene Assays

Reporter gene assays are important tools for studying gene expression associated with the activation of cellular pathways. Cells are transfected with a plasmid containing the reporter gene and a sequence of interest, typically a promoter or other transcriptional control element. When the promoter is activated, the reporter gene is expressed and its levels can be measured.

Learn more about dual luciferase reporter gene assay:

• Monitor NF-kB activation with a sensitive dual reporter assay on the SpectraMax iD5 microplate reader*
• Detect dual luciferase expression on the FlexStation 3 microplate reader
• Dual-Luciferase assays in 96- and 384-well formats on the SpectraMax L
• Measuring luciferase expression using the SpectraMax Glo Steady-Luc Reporter Assay Kit

Customer Breakthrough

University of Geneva uses the SpectraMax® L Microplate Reader for luciferase-based assays

To support vital work at the University of Geneva, M.Yves Cambet’s group use a variety of state-of-the-art microplate readers including the SpectraMax L for luciferase-based assays.

Read more  

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen. In eukaryotes, these molecules are mainly created during aerobic respiration and can cause problems, such as DNA damage and lipid peroxidation, resulting in cellular damage.  

We demonstrate how SpectraMax microplate readers can be used to accurately quantify ROS levels using a luminescence-based assay:

• Measuring reactive oxygen species with SpectraMax microplate readers

Cytotoxicity Assays

Cytotoxicity is often measured in response to an experimental treatment or potential drug. Having a way to easily screen cytotoxicity in treated cells is critical to identifying new therapeutic treatments or understanding cellular signaling pathways that affect cell health. Common indicators of cytotoxicity include the ATP level in a cell population and integrity of cellular membranes, both of which can be measured using a variety of microplate-based assays.

Learn more about cytotoxicity in cells:

• Cytotoxicity in Cells: Easy Determination Using Lonza ViaLight Plus and ToxiLight BioAssays on the SpectraMax L Microplate Luminometer

ATP-based cell viability assays

Luminescent ATP assays for cell viability and cytotoxicity provide a sensitive and rapid way to measure the number of viable cells in culture and quantify the cytotoxic effects of experimental treatments. These assays can be done in a high-throughput format using SpectraMax® microplate readers.

Learn about the CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability Assay and more:

• Luminescent cell viability and cytotoxicity assays on the SpectraMax i3x Multi-Mode Microplate Reader
• Measure cancer cell viability using a homogeneous, stable luminescence assay

Chemiluminescent ELISA

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are a family of secreted polypeptides that have been implicated in mammalian vascular development and in disease processes involving abnormal blood vessel growth.

Learn more about chemiluminescent ELISA method using our luminometer and data acquisition and analysis software:

• Chemiluminescent VEGF ELISA Using the SpectraMax L Microplate Luminometer

Mycoplasma Monitoring

Mycoplasma, the smallest and simplest of the prokaryotes, are common contaminants of cell cultures. Symptoms of mycoplasma contamination include a reduction in the rate of proliferation and changes in cellular responses, including gene expression

Learn how the MycoAlert Assay and MycoAlert PLUS Assay from Lonza provide a rapid and convenient way to detect viable mycoplasma in cell cultures using a luminescence microplate reader

• MycoAlert Mycoplasma Detection Assays on Molecular Devices Microplate Readers