Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)

Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) is a technique used in biology to study how molecules interact inside cells. It involves a special enzyme called a bioluminescent donor (like luciferase) that produces light when it reacts with a chemical. If a nearby molecule, called the acceptor, is close enough, it can absorb this light energy and then emit its own light. By measuring the light emitted, scientists can determine if the two molecules are interacting or close together within the cell. BRET is useful for investigating cellular processes in real-time without needing external light sources.