Staphylococcus aureus Cell Extract Transcription-Translation Assay: Firefly Luciferase Reporter System for Evaluating Protein Translation Inhibitors

Abstract
The promoter for the Staphylococcus aureus capsule polysaccharide synthesis gene ( cap1A ) was cloned in front of the firefly luciferase gene for use in a cell extract S. aureus transcription-translation system. The assay is rapid, reproducible, and sensitive and has a lower background level than the radiolabeled amino acid incorporation translation assays. We present data evaluating a transcription inhibitor and a number of protein translation inhibitors in this system.