Provided are modified virus-like particles (VLPs) of paramyxoviruses, compositions containing them, methods of using the VLPs for delivery of any particular protein of interest to any of a variety of cells, kits that contain expression vectors for making, using and detecting VLPs, and methods for screening for anti-viral compounds using the VLPs. The modified VLPs contain a contiguous recombinant polypeptide that contains i) all or a segment of a C-terminal domain of a paramyxovirus nucleocapsid protein and ii) a polypeptide sequence of a distinct protein. Non-covalent complexes of paramyxovirus M protein and fusion proteins that contain a C-terminal domain of a paramyxovirus nucleocapsid protein and a polypeptide sequence of a distinct protein are provided, as are non-covalent complexes of cells, and cell receptors, with modified VLPs.

Described are coelenterazine analogues, methods for making the analogues, kits comprising the analogues, and methods of using the compounds for the detection of luminescence in luciferase-based assays.

An isolated polynucleotide encoding a modified luciferase polypeptide and substrates. The OgLuc variant polypeptide has at least 60% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and at least one amino acid substitution at a position corresponding to an amino acid in SEQ ID NO: 1. The OgLuc variant polypeptide has at least one of enhanced luminescence, enhanced signal stability, and enhanced protein stability relative to the corresponding polypeptide of the wild-type Oplophorus luciferase.

Disclosed herein are fluff pulp compositions, absorbent articles comprising the fluff pulp compositions, and related methods. The fluff pulp compositions comprise a chemiluminescent system configured to produce visible light upon contact with an aqueous system. Representative absorbent articles include disposable diapers and adult incontinence products. Representative chemiluminescent systems include bioluminescent systems.

In order to provide modified luciferase whose substrate specificity to at least one luminescent substrate (e.g., AkaLumine) other than D-luciferin has been improved as compared with to D-luciferin, modified luciferase according to an aspect of the present invention has a mutation at an amino acid corresponding to a 347th amino acid in an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1.

Disclosed herein are fluff pulp compositions, absorbent articles comprising the fluff pulp compositions, and related methods. The fluff pulp compositions comprise a chemiluminescent system configured to produce visible light upon contact with an aqueous system. Representative absorbent articles include disposable diapers and adult incontinence products. Representative chemiluminescent systems include bioluminescent systems.

The present invention provides a method of designing an optimized gene which comprises altering a nucleotide sequence of a target protein gene, so that only preferential codons with high frequency of use in human cells are selected and a GC content of not less than 60% is achieved. A gene design method which involves the feature only preferential codons with high frequency of use are selected and a GC content of not less than 60% is achieved can be established as a general rule for preparing proteins with high expression level, in order to obtain chemically synthesized genes for proteins capable of high-level expression in eukaryotes.

A mutant hydrolase optionally fused to a protein of interest is provided. The mutant hydrolase is capable of forming a bond with a substrate for the corresponding nonmutant (wild-type) hydrolase which is more stable than the bond formed between the wild-type hydrolase and the substrate and has at least two amino acid substitutions relative to the wild-type hydrolase. Substrates for hydrolases comprising one or more functional groups are also provided, as well as methods of using the mutant hydrolase and the substrates of the invention. Also provided is a fusion protein capable of forming a stable bond with a substrate and cells which express the fusion protein.

Described are coelenterazine analogues, methods for making the analogues, kits comprising the analogues, and methods of using the compounds for the detection of luminescence in luciferase-based assays.

An isolated polynucleotide encoding a modified luciferase polypeptide and substrates. The OgLuc variant polypeptide has at least 60% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and at least one amino acid substitution at a position corresponding to an amino acid in SEQ ID NO: 1. The OgLuc variant polypeptide has at least one of enhanced luminescence, enhanced signal stability, and enhanced protein stability relative to the corresponding polypeptide of the wild-type Oplophorus luciferase.