Technical Information - Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence is best known from the glow of a firefly tail. It occurs when luciferase and luciferin come into contact with the molecule ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is present in all living organisms. Rapid microbial screening systems use ATP bioluminescence and sensitive light instruments (luminometers) to reveal the presence of microbes (which contain ATP) in product samples. The result will be an emission of light that is directly proportionate to the amount of ATP present in the sample.

ATP bioluminescence technology has been around for 40 years, but only since the introduction of Celsis' selective extraction reagents has the potential for this technology been allowed for use in a broad range of manufacturing industries. The latest development in the field of bioluminescence is the use of the enzyme Adenylate Kinase (AK), another vital part of energy metabolism that is present in all living organisms. Because AK is an enzyme, rather than a metabolite, it is possible to use AK to generate almost unlimited amounts of ATP which can then be detected by a conventional bioluminescence assay. The license for the use of AK in the testing of personal care, pharmaceutical and beverage products is held exclusively by Celsis.