The covalent conjugate of AquaLite® and affinity purified goat anti-mouse IgG antibody (U.S. Patent Nos. 5,422,266 and 5,486,455) is a non-isotopic, non-enzymatic reporter molecule or label that can be used in any assay format that employs mouse immunoglobulin G reagents.

AquaLite is a recombinant form of the photoprotein, aequorin, which is responsible for the bioluminescence exhibited by the jellyfish, Aequorea victoria. AquaLite consists of a single polypeptide (22 kDa) containing bound coelenterazine and molecular oxygen. Upon addition of calcium ions, AquaLite catalyzes the oxidation of the bound coelenterazine by the bound oxygen which is accompanied by the emission of a flash (approx. 2 sec) of blue light (lmax = 469 nm). Due to the high quantum yield of this process, AquaLite can be detected at the attomol level (10-18 mol) using commercially available luminometers.