Bioluminescence-based technologies are among the most commonly used methods to quantify and visualise physiology at the cellular and organismal levels. However, the potential of bioluminescence beyond reporter technologies remains largely unexplored. Here, we provide an overview of the emerging approaches employing bioluminescence as a biological light source that triggers physiological events and controls cell behaviour and discuss its possible future application in synthetic biology.
Keywords: BRET; bioluminescence; light-based communication; luciferase; luciferin; luminopsin; optogenetics; photosensitiser; synthetic biology.