Furimazine

Furimazine is a synthetic luciferin substrate used by the enzyme NanoLuc luciferase to produce bioluminescence. It is a derivative of the luciferin class, designed to enable high brightness and robust assay performance. NanoLuc, a small luciferase originating from the deep-sea shrimp Oplophorus gracilirostris, catalyzes the oxidation of furimazine, emitting blue light with an emission peak near 460 nm. The reaction yields a very bright luminescent signal, supporting sensitive detection in a range of laboratory assays.

Chemically, furimazine is a stable, synthetic luciferin analog tailored to fit NanoLuc’s substrate pocket. It is typically supplied in ready-to-use solutions or as a lyophilized powder and is compatible with standard luminescence buffers used in plate-based assays. The substrate-enzyme pair produces rapid light output with relatively low background, providing a high signal-to-noise ratio that is advantageous for high-throughput screening, reporter gene assays, and cellular imaging.

Availability and use: furimazine is marketed by Promega as part of the Nano-Glo luciferase substrate family, often in conjunction with NanoLuc luciferase or as part of the Nano-Glo Luciferase Assay System. Variants and related substrates are available to optimize stability and brightness for specific applications, including live-cell and in vivo imaging scenarios.

Safety and handling: as with other chemical reagents used in bioluminescence assays, furimazine should be handled according to standard laboratory safety practices, including appropriate personal protective equipment and proper waste disposal.