2-S-cysteinylhydroquinone is an intermediate for the firefly luciferin biosynthesis that occurs in the pupal stage of the Japanese firefly,Luciola lateralis

Firefly luciferin is a natural product that is well-known to function as the substrate of the bioluminescence reaction in luminous beetles. However, the details of the biosynthetic system are still unclear. In this study, we showed by LC-MS/MS analysis that stable isotope-labeled 2-S-cysteinylhydroquinone was incorporated into firefly luciferin in living firefly specimens. Comparison of the incorporation efficiency among the developmental stages suggested that firefly luciferin is biosynthesized predominantly in the pupal stage. We also accomplished the in vitro biosynthesis of firefly luciferin using 2-S-cysteinylhydroquinone and the crude buffer extract of firefly pupae, suggesting the presence of a biosynthetic enzyme in the pupal extract.     

STUDIES ON BIOLUMINESCENCE : XIV. THE SPECIFICITY OF LUCIFERIN AND LUCIFERASE.

Among sixteen groups of luminous forms investigated by the author, in only four (fireflies, Pholas, ostracods, and Odontosyllis) is it possible to demonstrate the luciferin-luciferase reaction. In many groups this is probably due to the small amount of these substances present in the luminescent organism or to their instability. In the medusæ and pennatulids, despite a large amount of luminescent material, luciferin and luciferase cannot be demonstrated. This does not appear to be due to the presence of luciferin and luciferase in equivalent proportion, or to their instability. In fact, one is led to the conclusion that luciferin and luciferase do not exist in these forms, but such a conclusion must be regarded as merely tentative, in view of the fundamental character of the luciferin-luciferase reaction. Luciferin of one form will not luminesce with the luciferase of another form or vice versa, unless very closely related (Cypridina and Pyrocypris). All experiments emphasize the specificity of the light producing substances of Cypridina.     

Theoretical analysis of a site-specific chemiluminescence reaction and its application to quantitation of lipid hydroperoxides

A system was designed for chemiluminescent measurement of lipid hydroperoxides by their site-specific reaction in sodium dodecylsulfate micelles. Ferrous ion-induced decomposition of lipid hydroperoxides in the sodium dodecylsulfate micelles resulted in strong chemiluminescence of the Cypridina luciferin analog, 2-methyl-6-phenyl-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-alpha]pyrazin-3-one (CLA). After addition of ferrous sulfate to the micelles containing lipid hydroperoxide and luciferin, the chemiluminescence intensity reached a maximum rapidly and then decreased. The sequence of this reaction was elucidated by theoretical analysis, which demonstrated that the maximum chemiluminescence intensity is proportional to the initial concentration of hydroperoxide. Good linear relationships were observed between the maximum counts of chemiluminescence and the amounts of hydroperoxides of linoleic acid, phosphatidylcholine, choresterol (5 alpha), cumene and tert-butyl and hydrogen peroxide. This chemiluminescence method was simple and sensitive enough to detect picomole levels of linoleic acid and phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides.     

Biosynthesis of Firefly Luciferin in Adult Lantern: Decarboxylation of ?-Cysteine is a Key Step for Benzothiazole Ring Formation in Firefly Luciferin Synthesis

Background

Bioluminescence in fireflies and click beetles is produced by a luciferase-luciferin reaction. The luminescence property and protein structure of firefly luciferase have been investigated, and its cDNA has been used for various assay systems. The chemical structure of firefly luciferin was identified as the ᴅ-form in 1963 and studies on the biosynthesis of firefly luciferin began early in the 1970’s. Incorporation experiments using ¹⁴C-labeled compounds were performed, and cysteine and benzoquinone/hydroquinone were proposed to be biosynthetic component for firefly luciferin. However, there have been no clear conclusions regarding the biosynthetic components of firefly luciferin over 30 years.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Incorporation studies were performed by injecting stable isotope-labeled compounds, including ʟ-[U-¹³C₃]-cysteine, ʟ-[1-¹³C]-cysteine, ʟ-[3-¹³C]-cysteine, 1,4-[D₆]-hydroquinone, and p-[2,3,5,6-D]-benzoquinone, into the adult lantern of the living Japanese firefly Luciola lateralis. After extracting firefly luciferin from the lantern, the incorporation of stable isotope-labeled compounds into firefly luciferin was identified by LC/ESI-TOF-MS. The positions of the stable isotope atoms in firefly luciferin were determined by the mass fragmentation of firefly luciferin.

Conclusions

We demonstrated for the first time that ᴅ- and ʟ-firefly luciferins are biosynthesized in the lantern of the adult firefly from two ʟ-cysteine molecules with p-benzoquinone/1,4-hydroquinone, accompanied by the decarboxylation of ʟ-cysteine.     

THE OXIDATION-REDUCTION POTENTIAL OF THE LUCIFERIN-OXYLUCIFERIN SYSTEM

The oxidation-reduction potential of the Cypridina luciferin-oxyluciferin system determined by a method of "bracketing" lies somewhere between that of anthraquinone 2-6-di Na sulfonate (E_o ^'' at pH of 7.7 = –.22) which reduces luciferin, and quinhydrone (E_o ^'' at pH of 7.7 = +.24), which oxidizes luciferin. Systems having an E_o ^'' value between –.22 and +.24 volt neither reduce oxyluciferin nor oxidize luciferin. If the luciferin-oxyluciferin system were truly reversible considerable reduction and oxidation should occur between –.22 and +.24. The system appears to be an irreversible one, with both "apparent oxidation" and "apparent reduction potentials" in Conant''s sense. Hydrosulfites, sulfides, CrCl₂, TiCl₃, and nascent hydrogen reduce oxyluciferin readily in absence of oxygen but without luminescence. Luminescence only appears in water solution if luciferin is oxidized by dissolved oxygen in presence of luciferase. Rapid oxidation of luciferin by oxygen without luciferase or oxidation by K₃Fe(CN)₆ in presence of luciferase but without oxygen never gives luminescence.     

ON THE QUANTA OF LIGHT PRODUCED AND THE MOLECULES OF OXYGEN UTILIZED DURING CYPRIDINA LUMINESCENCE

A study of the oxygen consumed per lumen of luminescence during oxidation of Cypridina luciferin in presence of luciferase, gives 11.4 x 10^–5 gm. oxygen per lumen or 88 molecules per quantum of λ = 0.48µ, the maximum in the Cypridina luminescence spectrum. For reasons given in the text, the actual value is probably somewhat less than this, perhaps of the order of 6.48 x 10^–5 gm. per lumen or 50 molecules of oxygen and 100 molecules of luciferin per quantum. It is quite certain that more than 1 molecule per quantum must react. On the basis of a reaction of the type: luciferin + 1/2 O₂ = oxyluciferin + H₂O + 54 Cal., it is calculated that the total efficiency of the luminescent process, energy in luminescence/heat of reaction, is about 1 per cent; and that a luciferin solution containing 4 per cent of dried Cypridina material should rise in temperature about 0.001°C. during luminescence, and contain luciferin in approximately 0.00002 molecular concentration.     

THE ANALYSIS OF BIOLUMINESCENCES OF SHORT DURATION,RECORDED WITH PHOTOELECTRIC CELL AND STRING GALVANOMETER

1. The rapid decay of luminescence in extracts of the ostracod crustacean Cypridina hilgendorfii, has been studied by means of a photoelectric-amplifier-string galvanometer recording system. 2. For rapid flashes of luminescence, the decay is logarithmic if ratio of luciferin to luciferase is small; logarithmic plus an initial flash, if ratio of luciferin to luciferase is greater than five. The logarithmic plot of luminescence intensity against time is concave to time axis if ratio of luciferin to luciferase is very large. 3. The velocity constant of rapid flashes of luminescence is approximately proportional to enzyme concentration, is independent of luciferin concentration, and varies approximately inversely as the square root of the total luciferin (luciferin + oxyluciferin) concentration. For large total luciferin concentrations, the velocity constant is almost independent of the total luciferin. 4. The variation of velocity constant with total luciferin concentration (luciferin + oxyluciferin) and its independence of luciferin concentration is explained by assuming that light intensity is a measure of the luciferin molecules which become activated to oxidize (accompanied with luminescence) by adsorption on luciferase. The adsorption equilibrium is the same for luciferin and oxyluciferin and determines the velocity constant.     

Determination of horserdish peroxidase concentration using the chemiluminescence of Cypridina luciferin analogue, 2 methyl-6-(p-methyoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one

The chemiluminescence of the Cypridina luciferin analogue, 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one (MCLA) was observed at 462nm in the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the total spectrum of light emitted was found to depend linearly on HRP concentration. Methods for the determination of HRP concentration using the chemiluminescence was investigated. HRP could be detected in the range from 100 pmol/L to 100nmol/L under the optimum condition, H₂O₂ (10mmol/L) and MCLA (10μmol/L) at pH 5.8.     

Development of a Cell-Based Bioassay for Phospholipase A2-Triggered Liposomal Drug Release

The feasibility of exploiting secretory phospholipase A₂ (sPLA₂) enzymes, which are overexpressed in tumors, to activate drug release from liposomes precisely at the tumor site has been demonstrated before. Although the efficacy of the developed formulations was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo models, the pattern of sPLA₂-assisted drug release is unknown due to the lack of a suitable bio-relevant model. We report here on the development of a novel bioluminescence living-cell-based luciferase assay for the monitoring of sPLA₂-triggered release of luciferin from liposomes. To this end, we engineered breast cancer cells to produce both luciferase and sPLA₂ enzymes, where the latter is secreted to the extracellular medium. We report on setting up a robust and reproducible bioassay for testing sPLA₂-sensitive, luciferin remote-loaded liposomal formulations, using 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine/1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol (DSPC/DSPG) 7:3 and DSPC/DSPG/cholesterol 4:3:3 as initial test systems. Upon their addition to the cells, the liposomes were degraded almost instantaneously by sPLA₂ releasing the encapsulated luciferin, which provided readout from the luciferase-expressing cells. Cholesterol enhanced the integrity of the formulation without affecting its susceptibility to sPLA₂. PEGylation of the liposomes only moderately broadened the release profile of luciferin. The provided bioassay represents a useful tool for monitoring active drug release in situ in real time as well as for testing and optimizing of sPLA₂-sensitive lipid formulations. In addition, the bioassay will pave the way for future in-depth in vitro and in vivo studies.     

Investigation on 1O2 generation ability of di‐sulfonic phthalocyanine zinc isomers using an HPLC–CL system

An HPLC system combining a chemiluminescence detector was applied to estimate the singlet oxygen (¹O₂) generation ability of di‐sulfonic phthalocyanine zinc (ZnPcS₂) isomers. As photosensitizers, ZnPcS₂ produces ¹O₂ in air‐saturated solutions under photoirradiation. The latter reacts with methyl Cypridina luciferin analogue (MCLA) to initiate chemiluminescence. This photoinduced chemiluminescence (PCL) of MCLA provides an easy method for evaluating the isomers' ¹O₂ generation ability during a simultaneous HPLC separation procedure. The cis‐isomers and trans‐isomers of ZnPcS₂ show different ¹O₂ generation abilities, which are in accordance with differences in their absorption spectra. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and bioluminescence of difluoroluciferin

A new synthesis route to firefly luciferin analogs was developed via the synthesis of 5′,7′-difluoroluciferin. As a luciferase substrate, it produces maximal bioluminescence at a much lower pH than is optimal for native luciferin, and at lower pH it gives much more of the red-shifted emission that is characteristic of the phenolate. These features are attributed to the enhanced acidity of the o,o-difluorophenol.     

Optimized luciferase assay for cell-penetrating peptide-mediated delivery of short oligonucleotides

An improved assay for screening for the intracellular delivery efficacy of short oligonucleotides using cell-penetrating peptides is suggested. This assay is an improvement over previous assays that use luciferase reporters for cell-penetrating peptides because it has been scaled up from a 24-well format to a 96-well format and no longer relies on a luciferin reagent that has been commercially sourced. In addition, the homemade luciferin reagent is useful in multiple cell lines and in different assays that rely on altering the expression of luciferase. To establish a new protocol, the composition of the luciferin reagent was optimized for both signal strength and longevity by multiple two-factorial experiments varying the concentrations of adenosine triphosphate, luciferin, coenzyme A, and dithiothreitol. In addition, the optimal conditions with respect to cell number and time of transfection for both short interfering RNA (siRNA) and splice-correcting oligonucleotides (SCOs) are established. Optimal transfection of siRNA and SCOs was achieved using the reverse transfection method where the oligonucleotide complexes are already present in the wells before the cells are plated. Z′ scores were 0.73 for the siRNA assay and 0.71 for the SCO assay, indicating that both assays are suitable for high-throughput screening.     

Why does the bioluminescent fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Armillaria mellea</Emphasis> have luminous mycelium but nonluminous fruiting body?

By determining the components involved in the bioluminescence process in luminous and nonluminous organs of the honey fungus Armillaria mellea, we have established causes of partial luminescence of this fungus. The complete set of enzymes and substrates required for bioluminescence is formed only in the mycelium and only under the conditions of free oxygen access. Since the synthesis of luciferin precursor (hispidin) and 3-hydroxyhispidin hydroxylase in the fruiting bodies is blocked, the formation of luciferin—the key component of fungal bioluminescent system—was not observed. That is why the fruiting body of Armillaria mellea is nonluminous despite the presence of luciferase, the enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin with a photon emission.     

A highly sensitive method for determining both Mn- and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activities in tissues and blood cells

A highly sensitive method for determining the superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) in various tissues and blood cells is described. This method involves inhibition of a cypridina luciferin analog that is chemiluminescence dependent upon O2- generated by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase. Manganeous superoxide dismutase, which is sensitive to sodium dodecyl sulfate, was determined and calculated by subtraction of superoxide dismutase activity in tissue extract treated with this detergent (Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase) from that in untreated tissue extract (total superoxide dismutase). Both Mn- and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activities were expressed as equivalent nanograms of bovine erythrocyte superoxide dismutase per milliliter. Sensitivity limits of the chemiluminescence methods with 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-alpha]pyraz in-3-one and 2-methyl-6-phenyl-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-alpha]pyrazin-3-one as cypridina luciferin analogs were 1 ng and 2-3 ng of superoxide dismutase/ml, respectively.     

STUDIES ON BIOLUMINESCENCE : IX. CHEMICAL NATURE OF CYPRIDINA LUCIFERIN AND CYPRIDINA LUCIFERASE.

There seems to be very little doubt but that luciferase is a protein or so closely associated with proteins that their removal destroys its characteristic properties. The particular group of proteins to which it belongs may be arrived at by a process of exclusion, and only the group of albumins has properties which agree completely with those of luciferase. Dubois believes Pholas luciferase to be an oxidizing enzyme similar to the oxydones of Battelli and Stern because it is readily destroyed by fat solvents such as chloroform, strong alcohol, etc. He has detected iron in a luciferase solution which has dialyzed against running water for a long time, and believes it to be made up of protein in combination with iron and to act as an "oxyzymase ferrique." Cypridina luciferase, on the other hand, is not readily destroyed by fat solvents. Toluene and chloroform are good preservatives, and I often make use of them for this purpose, keeping the luciferase solutions for many months. Professor A. H. Phillips of Princeton University has very kindly analyzed some whole dried Cypridinœ for me and finds iron, copper, and manganese but no zinc or vanadium to be present. Whether these metals are connected with the action of Cypridina luciferase is uncertain, but it is significant that all three of the metals thought to be concerned in organic oxidations are present. Although a large amount of luciferin mixed with a small amount of luciferase will use up all the latter, I agree with Dubois that luciferase has sufficient properties in common with the enzymes as a class to be considered an enzyme. The peroxidases are well known to be used up in the reactions they accelerate. All workers on enzymes agree that the more enzymes are purified the less active they become. The chemical procedures necessary to remove foreign material bring about irreversible changes in the enzyme itself, a characteristic also of many protein groups and of the colloidal state in general. This is true in the case of luciferase, for the crude luciferase solution is the most active preparation that can be obtained. I believe that Cypridina luciferase should be placed in a class of oxidizing enzymes by itself—a group having the chemical reactions of an albumin, possibly in combination with some heavy metal, and which as far as we know, acts specifically on only one substance, Cypridina luciferin. It resembles the plant peroxidases in resisting the action of chloroform, toluene, etc., but will not oxidize any of the hydroxyphenol or aminophenol compounds so readily oxidized by the peroxidases, nor will the peroxidases oxidize luciferin with light production. Dubois'' researches show that Pholas luciferase differs in some properties from Cypridina luciferase, and my own work indicates that firefly luciferase is more like that of Pholas. A comparative study of other species of luminous animals is needed in order to delimit more accurately the class of luciferases as a whole. Luciferin presents many characteristics in common with the proteins, but two, which, to say the least, throw doubt on its protein nature: (1) its peculiar solubility (in alcohols, esters, and glacial acetic acid), (2) and its resistance to digestion by proteases, even by trypsin which has almost universal digestive action. These two peculiarities have been discussed above. We can only say that if a protein, luciferin must belong to a new group differing from known natural proteins in these respects. In general characteristics this new group would fall somewhere on the border-line between the proteoses and peptones. It would not be surprising to find in nature proteoses or peptones soluble in absolute alcohol. We know also that some NH-CO linkages of proteins are broken down with great difficulty by trypsin as it is difficult to obtain a tryptic digest of protein which does not give the biuret reaction, and the work of Fischer and Abderhalden has shown that certain artificial polypeptides are not digested by pure activated pancreatic juice. We have, then, three possibilities. Luciferin is (1) either a natural proteose not attacked by trypsin, or (2) if attacked by trypsin, its decomposition products (presumably amino-acids) still contain the group oxidizable with light production, or (3) it is not a protein at all. I believe that luciferin has too many protein characteristics to conform to the last possibility. I have been unable to oxidize with light production various mixtures of amino-acids (from beef and casein) by means of luciferase and consequently am led to believe that luciferin is a new natural proteose, soluble in absolute alcohol and not digested by trypsin. Dubois believes Pholas luciferin to be a natural albumin with acid properties. Cypridina luciferin could not possibly be regarded as an albumin, but it is very likely that the luciferins of different species of luminous animals differ in certain characteristics. As in the case of the luciferases, we know that the luciferins are not identical substances, and only future work can determine in what particulars they differ. A summary of the properties of Cypridina luciferin and Cypridina luciferase will be found in the tables accompanying this paper.     

Biochemical and morphological changes accompanying light organ development in the firefly, Photuris pennsylvanica

The larval light organs of the firefly, Photuris pennsylvanica, regress and are replaced by the adult lantern during metamorphosis. Larval and adult light organs are present and capable of periodic light emission during the latter stages of pupation and the early adult. The whole pupa emits a continuous, low level, glow throughout pupation.During pupation levels of luciferase and luciferin, the enzyme and substrate required in the light reaction, were found to remain constant in the posterior half of the pupa and to show an initial increase followed by a decrease in the anterior half. Levels of luciferase and luciferin in anterior halves were not affected by ablation of the larval light organs. The ratio of luciferase to luciferin concentrations changed from less than 1, in larval and pupal stages, to greater than 1, in the adult. Changes in the concentration and the localization of luciferase and luciferin were correlated with observed light organ development.     

STUDIES ON BIOLUMINESCENCE : II. THE PARTIAL PURIFICATION OF CYPRIDINA LUCIFERIN

Some solubility, oxidation, reduction, and compound-forming characteristics of extracts of Cypridina luciferin have been presented. A method of purification has been described which increased the amount of luciferin per unit of dry weight, as measured by the total light emitted, to about two thousand times that in the dry starting material. The best yields were from 50 to 65 per cent.     

Mathematical Model of the Firefly Luciferase Complementation Assay Reveals a Non-Linear Relationship between the Detected Luminescence and the Affinity of the Protein Pair Being Analyzed

The firefly luciferase complementation assay is widely used as a bioluminescent reporter technology to detect protein-protein interactions in vitro, in cellulo, and in vivo. Upon the interaction of a protein pair, complemented firefly luciferase emits light through the adenylation and oxidation of its substrate, luciferin. Although it has been suggested that kinetics of light production in the firefly luciferase complementation assay is different from that in full length luciferase, the mechanism behind this is still not understood. To quantitatively understand the different kinetics and how changes in affinity of a protein pair affect the light emission in the assay, a mathematical model of the in vitro firefly luciferase complementation assay was constructed. Analysis of the model finds that the change in kinetics is caused by rapid dissociation of the protein pair, low adenylation rate of luciferin, and increased affinity of adenylated luciferin to the enzyme. The model suggests that the affinity of the protein pair has an exponential relationship with the light detected in the assay. This relationship causes the change of affinity in a protein pair to be underestimated. This study underlines the importance of understanding the molecular mechanism of the firefly luciferase complementation assay in order to analyze protein pair affinities quantitatively.     

Synthetic analogue of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fridericia</Emphasis> luciferin with improved spectral properties

New bioluminescent analogue of Fridericia luciferin was synthesized for the first time. Bioluminescence emission maximum of the compound demonstrates a 50-nm bathochromic shift compared to the luciferin. The obtained analogue may find use in the novel in vivo bioimaging applications.     

A shuffled CYP2C library with a high degree of structural integrity and functional versatility

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes involved in mammalian xenobiotic metabolism are attractive targets for the engineering of biocatalysts since they have broad and overlapping substrate and reaction substrate specificities. In this report, a library of chimeric mutants was prepared from CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C18 and CYP2C19 by DNA family shuffling. Twelve randomly selected clones were fully sequenced and showed 9 ± 2 crossovers and 1.5 ± 0.5 spontaneous mutations per ∼1.5 kbp open reading frame. CYP hemoprotein expression was observed in 50% (microaerobic culture) to 54% (aerobic culture) of clones. The functional diversity of the library was assessed using three luminogenic substrates, diclofenac and indole as probe substrates. A random sample of 26 clones revealed two clones with activity towards luciferin ME, one towards luciferin H and five towards diclofenac 4′-hydroxylation. One mutant showed activity towards all three substrates. Of 96 clones screened on solid media, one showed elevated indigo production compared to the parental forms. Turnover rates for luciferin ME and H metabolism by CYP2C9 and mutants were at least one order of magnitude higher in experiments with membranes compared to whole cells, consistent with impaired product egress from cells. Apparent K_m values were increased in whole cell incubations with luciferin H suggesting impaired access of the substrate to the active site of the enzymes in whole cells. Finally screening with a panel of CYP2C ligands using CYP2C9 or active mutants revealed different patterns of inhibition and heteroactivation of metabolism of luciferin analogs.