Renilla

Renilla is a genus of marine cnidarians in the family Renillidae, comprising species including Renilla reniformis, commonly known as the sea pansy. These organisms are colonial hydrozoans that resemble sea anemones, with a flattened, lobed base connected to a short stalk and a crown of gastrovascular polyps. The colonies are sessile and exhibit color variation from brown to greenish due to symbiotic algae or pigments.

Renilla reniformis inhabits shallow tropical and subtropical waters in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, often found on sandy or rubble substrates, coral reefs, or seagrass beds. They feed on small planktonic organisms captured by their tentacles. Reproduction occurs both sexually, via broadcast spawning, and asexually through budding of polyps to form larger colonies.

In biotechnology, Renilla refers to Renilla luciferase, an enzyme derived from Renilla reniformis. Renilla luciferase catalyzes the oxidation of coelenterazine to emit blue light and is widely used as a reporter gene in molecular biology and bioassays. It is often used in conjunction with firefly luciferase in dual-reporter assays because its light emission and substrate are distinct. The Renilla system enables monitoring of gene expression, cellular events, and sensor readouts in living cells and organisms.