| abstract |
A protein having luciferase activity and at least 60% similarity to luciferase from <I>Photinus pyralis, Luciola mingrelica, Luciola cruciata</I> or <I>Luciola lateralis, Hotaria paroula, Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus, Lampyris noctiluca, Pyrocoelia nayako</I> or <I>Photinus pennsylanvanica</I>, wherein in the sequence of the enzyme, at least one of<BR> (a) the amino acid residue corresponding to residue 214, 232, 295, 14, 35, 105, 234, 420 or 310 of the <I>Photinus pyralis</I> luciferase;<BR> is different to the amino acid which appears in the corresponding wild type sequence and wherein the luciferase enzyme has increased thermostability as compared to an enzyme having the amino acid of the corresponding wild-type luciferase at this position. |