Bioluminescence is a chemical reaction within living organisms. Its principle involves specific enzymes catalyzing the oxidation of substrates to produce excited-state intermediates. When these intermediates return to their ground state, they release photons.
Based on this principle, a series of bioluminescence-based detection reagents have been developed and are widely used in the field of life sciences. These reagents generally have the following advantages: simple operation, high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, low background interference, and suitability for high-throughput and automated scenarios.
Abcam has developed a series of high-performance and cost-effective detection products based on bioluminescence methods to assist a wide range of scientific research clients.
1. Cell Viability & Apoptosis Detection Kits
Abcam's CTG-LTM and CTF-LTM series products are based on the bioluminescence detection principle of luciferase and the detection principle of live-cell protease activity to measure cell viability. The CAS-GTM product utilizes the activity of Caspase 3/7 enzymes to design corresponding bioluminescent substrates for more sensitive detection of early cell apoptosis. The entire product line is fully comparable to the industry gold standard P* brand, with advantages such as simple operation, wide linear range, high sensitivity, stable signal, and suitability for high-throughput automated scenarios.
 Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the principle of cell viability detection using the luciferase method in the CTG-LTM series
 Fig. 2. Schematic diagram of the principle of live-cell protease activity detection in the CTF-LTM series
 Fig. 3. Schematic diagram of the principle of caspase 3/7 enzyme activity detection in the CAS-GTM series
Product Number
|
Product Name
|
Specification
|
Features
|
abs50065
|
CTG-L™ 2D Cell Viability Detection Kit |
10 & 100 & 1000 ml
|
Upgraded, stronger signal, supports large packaging |
abs50059
|
2D/3D/Organoid ATP Viability Assay Kit |
10 & 100 ml
|
Optimized for organoid |
abs50190
|
CTG-L™ 3D Cell Viability Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml
|
Optimized for organoid, better signal |
abs50189
|
CTG-L™ 2D Cell Viability Detection Kit 2.0 |
100 & 500 ml
|
Improved stability |
abs50193
|
CTF-L™ 2D Fluorescent Cell Viability Detection Kit |
10 & 50×2 ml
|
Ex380/Em510, luminescence method, non-destructive |
abs50198
|
CAS-G™ Caspase3/7 Cell Apoptosis Detection Kit |
2.5 & 10 & 100 ml
|
Luminescence method for detecting Caspase enzyme activity |
2. Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay
The luciferase reporter gene assay system has become an indispensable tool in life sciences research due to its high sensitivity, specificity, and ease of operation. It is widely used in various fields such as gene expression, signal transduction, protein-protein interactions, cell biology, oncology, microbiology, drug development, gene therapy, biosensor development, and in vivo imaging.
Abcam's luciferase reporter gene assay kits are of excellent performance and comprehensive coverage. They include commonly used firefly and Renilla luciferase detection systems and their combinations into dual-luciferase detection kits. There are also smaller molecule Nano luciferase detection systems with less interference. For the most widely used firefly luciferase detection reagent, we have developed several different reagents with longer signal half-life, stronger signal, and better storage stability to meet the needs of different customers.
 Fig. 4. Schematic diagram of the detection results for the DUG-LTM Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay Kit
Plant HEK293 cells at a confluence of 60% into a white 96-well plate with a clear bottom at a volume of 100 µl per well. On the second day, transfect the cells with 0.2 µg of DNA of two plasmids, pCMV-Fluc and pCMV-Rluc, per well. After 48 hours, measure the activity of the dual luciferases according to the product manual. The experimental data represent the average of four wells. Group A: The relative light units (RLU) after adding reagent component R1; Group B: The RLU after adding R2 buffer; Group C: The RLU after adding R2 substrate.
Product Number |
Product Name |
Specification |
Features |
abs60672
|
STG-L™ Stable Luciferase Reporter Gene Detection Kit |
100 & 1000 ml
|
Stable type, half-life exceeds 4 hours |
abs60673
|
BRG-L™ High Luminosity Luciferase Reporter Gene Detection Kit |
100 & 1000 ml
|
High brightness, stronger signal |
abs60674
|
ONG-L™ One-luc Luciferase Reporter Gene Detection Kit |
100 & 1000 ml
|
Good chemical stability, no decay for 4°C 5 days |
abs60675
|
REG-L™ Renilla Luciferase Reporter Gene Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml
|
Detection reagent for Renilla luciferase system |
abs60676
|
DUG-L™ Dual Luciferase Reporter Gene Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml
|
Detection of firefly & Renilla dual luciferase reporter genes |
abs60677
|
NAG-L™ NLuc Luciferase Reporter Gene Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml
|
Detection reagent for Nano luciferase system |
abs60681
|
4 Luci/Gaussia Luciferase Reporter Gene Detection Kit |
500 & 2500 T
|
Dual luciferase reporter gene detection new choice |
3. NanoLuc Luciferase Assay Reagents
Abcam's NAG-L™ NanoLuc luciferase product series, developed based on HiBiT technology (a bioluminescence detection technology based on protein complementation), can detect intracellular or extracellular protein expression, degradation, and interactions. These products are characterized by high sensitivity and a high signal-to-noise ratio.
 Fig. 5. Schematic diagram of the lytic detection principle of NAG-L™ NanoLuc luciferase
Product Number |
Product Name |
Specification |
Features |
abs60678
|
NAG-L™ Lytic NanoLuc Luciferase Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml |
Lytic type, detects intracellular target proteins |
abs60679
|
NAG-L™ Extracellular NanoLuc Luciferase Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml |
Non-lytic type, detects extracellular target proteins |
abs60680
|
NAG-L™ Live Cell NanoLuc Luciferase Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml |
Substrate can enter cells, detects live cell target proteins |
4. Kinase Activity Assay Reagents
Abcam's KNG-L™ series of kinase activity assay reagents utilize ATP-dependent luciferase luminescence reactions to quantitatively measure the consumption of ATP during the kinase catalysis process, thereby assessing the catalytic activity of kinases. The ADP-K™ kinase ADP detection kit, on the other hand, can assess kinase catalytic activity by measuring the content of ADP.

Fig. 6. Schematic diagram of the detection principle of the ADP-K™ Kinase ADP Detection Kit
Product Number |
Product Name |
Specification |
Features |
abs50194
|
KNG-L™ Kinase Luminescence Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml |
Suitable for up to 10uM ATP system |
abs50195
|
KNG-L™ Kinase Plus Luminescence Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml |
Suitable for up to 100uM ATP system |
abs50196
|
KNG-L™ Kinase Max Luminescence Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml |
Suitable for up to 500uM ATP system |
abs50197
|
ADP-K™ Kinase ADP Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml |
Suitable for up to 1mM ATP system |
5. Other Luminescence Detection Reagents
Abcam also offers other detection reagents and consumables based on the principle of bioluminescence.
Product Number |
Product Name |
Specification |
Features |
abs90283
|
MYCO-L™ Luciferase Substrate Detection Kit |
10 & 100 ml |
Detects substrate enzyme activity through luminescence, detects substrate |
abs42075819
|
Luciferin Potassium Salt |
25 & 100 mg |
Substrate for firefly luciferase, also used for small animal imaging |
abs42017259
|
Luciferin Sodium Salt |
25 & 100 mg |
Substrate for firefly luciferase, also used for small animal imaging |
abs7016
|
Flat-bottom Luminescence Detection Microplate (96-well, white bottom, white lid) |
50/box |
Luminescence detection experimental consumable |
abs7017
|
Flat-bottom Luminescence Detection Microplate (96-well, black bottom, black lid) |
50/box |
Luminescence detection experimental consumable |
abs7018
|
Flat-bottom Luminescence Detection Microplate (96-well, white bottom, transparent lid) |
50/box |
Luminescence detection experimental consumable |
abs7019
|
Flat-bottom Luminescence Detection Microplate (96-well, black bottom, transparent lid) |
50/box |
Luminescence detection experimental consumable |
abs7308
|
Microplate (96-well, white, shallow well) |
50/box |
Shallow well, suitable for small volume |
abs7311
|
Microplate (384-well, white, shallow well) |
40/box |
Shallow well, suitable for small volume |
|