Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Genta Kamiya, Nobuo Kitada, Ryohei Saito-Moriya, Rika Obata, Satoshi Iwano, Atsushi Miyawaki, Takashi Hirano, Shojiro A. Maki
Summary: Firefly bioluminescence is widely used in life science applications for its high-efficiency light production. Near-infrared range is suitable for in vivo bioluminescence imaging due to its high permeability in deep biological tissues. New luciferin analogues emitting light at 765 nm were successfully synthesized in this study using Photinus pyralis luciferase.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giorgia Zambito, Chintan Chawda, Laura Mezzanotte
Summary: Bioluminescence imaging relies on enzymatic reactions between luciferase, luciferin, and cofactors to study gene expression and cell fate in research models. Recent developments include improved luciferase-luciferin systems for enhanced imaging, and caged luciferins to report on enzymatic activity and intracellular functions. This review critically evaluates the emerging tools for bioluminescence imaging, providing an overview of the latest developments (2018-2020) and their significant applications.
CURRENT OPINION IN CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caroline K. Brennan, Marya Y. Ornelas, Zi W. Yao, Jennifer A. Prescher
Summary: Researchers are overcoming the limitations of bioluminescent probes by engineering new luciferases and exploring naphthylamino luciferins as orthogonal probes. Three analogues were prepared and found to be robust emitters in vitro and in cellulo, showing potential for use in multi-component imaging with existing bioluminescent tools.
Review
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Yiyi Jiang, Xiaorui Shi, Chu Tang, Fu Wang
Summary: This review describes the recent advances in modifying natural luciferase reporter systems to improve the sensitivity of in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and expand its biomedical applications.
COORDINATION CHEMISTRY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chia-Hao Chang, Danielle M. Fontaine, Sandra Gomez, Bruce R. Branchini, James C. Anderson
Summary: This study describes the design of pi-extended conjugation 'V'-shaped red shifted bioluminescent D-luciferin analogues based on a novel benzobisthiazole core. The 'V'-shaped luciferins showed narrower optical band gaps, more red-shifted absorption and emission spectra compared to D-luciferin. Their bioluminescence characteristics were recorded against four different luciferases, and the 'V'-shaped luciferins demonstrated more red-shifted emissions than D-luciferin by 60 to 80 nm. Additionally, the benzobisthiazole luciferins showed a wide range of bioluminescence spectra from the visible light region to the nIR window. Molecular modeling supported the design concept and suggested its potential application in the development of novel D-luciferin analogues.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Shitong Liu, Jinbin Zhao, Yulan Guo, Xueer Ma, Chunmeng Sun, Ming Cai, Yuyang Chi, Kun Xu
Summary: With the development of new technologies, bioluminescence detection based on ATP has made progress in bacterial detection. The method utilizing the fluorescence reaction of luciferase with ATP is easy to operate, has a short detection cycle, and is suitable for long-term continuous monitoring. Combining bioluminescence with other methods is being explored for more accurate and efficient detection. This paper introduces the principle, development, application, and future prospects of bioluminescence in bacterial detection based on ATP.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mariana X. X. Navarro, Caroline K. K. Brennan, Anna C. C. Love, Jennifer A. A. Prescher
Summary: Bioluminescence is a sensitive technique that can be used for imaging biological features. Recent advancements have led to the development of probes that enable multiplexed bioluminescence imaging. These probes can generate unique signals and can be used together with endogenous enzymes for multiplexed studies.
PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Shufeng Li, Zhiyang Ruan, Hang Zhang, Haiwei Xu
Summary: Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a newly developed noninvasive visual approach that utilizes the firefly luciferin-luciferase system to achieve high sensitivity imaging of various biological processes, with applications in tumor activity evaluation, disease detection, and therapy.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ryohei Saito-Moriya, Jun Nakayama, Genta Kamiya, Nobuo Kitada, Rika Obata, Shojiro A. Maki, Hiroshi Aoyama
Summary: Bioluminescence reactions are commonly used in optical in vivo imaging for quantifying tumor cells and gene expression. Researchers have developed various bioluminescence systems, including multicolor BLI based on artificial luciferin analogues and/or luciferase mutants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vadim R. Viviani, Vanessa R. Bevilaqua, Daniel R. de Souza, Gabriel F. Pelentir, Michio Kakiuchi, Takashi Hirano
Summary: Beetle luciferases are widely used for bioimaging purposes, with red bioluminescence preferred for mammalian tissues, although far-red and near-infrared bioluminescence are better suited due to higher penetrability. Development of novel combinations with higher brightness and thermostability shows promise for bioimaging in mammalian tissues.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Ecology
Aleksandra S. Tsarkova
Summary: Bioluminescence is the ability of living organisms to produce visible light through a biochemical reaction catalyzed by an enzyme. This trait has evolved independently multiple times, with estimates ranging from 40 to 100 occurrences, but the biosynthetic mechanisms are still largely unknown and require further research.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tetsuya Ishimoto, Takuya Okada, Shiho Fujisaka, Kunimasa Yagi, Kazuyuki Tobe, Naoki Toyooka, Hisashi Mori
Summary: This study shows that the luciferin of the firefly squid reacts with human albumin to emit light, and the intensity of light is proportional to the albumin concentration. Using this principle, the researchers were able to measure urinary albumin concentrations in patients with diabetes, which is important for early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy. The Watasenia luciferin method tends to produce lower albumin concentrations compared to other methods.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yanyun Yang, Miaomiao Zhang, Wenting Zhang, Yinglu Chen, Tong Zhang, Sheng Chen, Yue Yuan, Gaolin Liang, Shusheng Zhang
Summary: In this study, a bioluminescent probe P-Bz-Luc was designed for sensitive tumor imaging through the co-cleavage of ALP and GGT. The probe showed excellent linear relationship with enzyme concentration and successfully applied for imaging of ALP and GGT co-overexpressed breast cancer cells and tumors.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Glwadys Gagnot, Vincent Hervin, Eloi P. Coutant, Sophie Goyard, Yves Jacob, Thierry Rose, Fatima Ezzahra Hibti, Alessia Quatela, Yves L. Janin
Summary: This work focuses on the design and synthesis of luciferin analogues related to blue-hued coelenterazine, aiming to produce photons possibly at different wavelengths. Despite the presence of substituents found in actual substrates, no bioluminescence was observed with these compounds, however, they produced light signals through chemiluminescence in a phosphate buffer. The addition of a quaternary ammonium salt in the buffer increased the light signal intensity, contributing to the determination of emission spectra of these luciferin analogues.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Xiayu Liu, Mingyu Wang, Yajun Liu
Summary: Fungal bioluminescence is commonly found in terrestrial environments, where fungi emit green light during a specific growth stage. This phenomenon involves a cyclic process of caffeic acid, including the biosynthesis of luciferin, luminescence process, and regeneration of caffeic acid. Previous experimental studies have outlined this cycle but lacked detailed reaction processes and mechanisms. In this article, the authors aim to describe the reaction processes and mechanisms of the other two stages through theoretical calculations. A comprehensive theoretical study on the chemistry of fungal bioluminescence can enhance our understanding of this phenomenon.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sierra J. Williams, Clare S. Hwang, Jennifer A. Prescher
Summary: This study introduces new luciferins for orthogonal imaging and their corresponding luciferases, which exhibit bright emission and unique light output patterns. The research also uncovers the origins of substrate selectivity, allowing for orthogonal imaging with existing bioluminescent reporters.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bethany Kolbaba-Kartchner, I. Can Kazan, Jeremy H. Mills, S. Banu Ozkan
Summary: The study explores the relationship between protein dynamics and enzymatic function in beta-lactamases, revealing that allosteric coupling of rigid residues to the active site has profound effects on enzyme function. By altering the dynamic profile of TEM-1 using computational protein design methods, it was found that changing residues surrounding highly coupled rigid residues significantly affected enzymatic activity and stability. This integration of computational protein design methods with analyses of protein dynamics represents a general approach to extend understanding of the relationship between dynamics and function in other enzyme classes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Colin M. Rathbun, Anastasia A. Ionkina, Zi Yao, Krysten A. Jones, William B. Porterfield, Jennifer A. Prescher
Summary: Studies of biological function require probes that can report on processes in real time. Bioluminescent tools are ideal for this purpose, offering sensitive imaging in cells and tissues without the need for excitation light. Recent advancements in engineered luciferases and luciferins have expanded the scope of bioluminescence imaging, but challenges remain in visualizing combinations of bioluminescent reporters using traditional methods.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patrick R. Gleason, Bethany Kolbaba-Kartchner, J. Nathan Henderson, Erik P. Stahl, Chad R. Simmons, Jeremy H. Mills
Summary: Research on streptavidin mutants containing fluorescent noncanonical amino acids showed changes in fluorescence spectra upon binding to biotin, providing insights into the interactions responsible for these changes and potentially aiding in the design of protein-based sensors for small molecule binding.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna C. Love, Sabrina H. Tran, Jennifer A. Prescher
Summary: This study presents a novel strategy to illuminate cell proximity using transcriptional activators by repurposing cumate. Reporter cells can express target genes when in close proximity to activator cells. This new approach provides a versatile platform to study and potentially manipulate cellular interactions over time.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caroline K. Brennan, Marya Y. Ornelas, Zi W. Yao, Jennifer A. Prescher
Summary: Researchers are overcoming the limitations of bioluminescent probes by engineering new luciferases and exploring naphthylamino luciferins as orthogonal probes. Three analogues were prepared and found to be robust emitters in vitro and in cellulo, showing potential for use in multi-component imaging with existing bioluminescent tools.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Zi Yao, Caroline K. Brennan, Lorenzo Scipioni, Hongtao Chen, Kevin K. Ng, Giulia Tedeschi, Kshitij Parag-Sharma, Antonio L. Amelio, Enrico Gratton, Michelle A. Digman, Jennifer A. Prescher
Summary: By combining bioluminescence with phasor analysis, we have overcome the challenges associated with bioluminescence detection at the microscale, enabling quantitative, instantaneous, and multiplexed imaging, as well as dynamic measurement of cellular and molecular features.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
I. Can Kazan, Jeremy H. Mills, S. Banu Ozkan
Summary: We investigated the relationship between mutations and dynamics in Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) using computational methods. Our study used molecular dynamics simulations and developed position-specific metrics to analyze the dynamics of wild-type DHFR. We found a significant association between dynamic flexibility and mutational tolerance of DHFR positions, and identified residues that control the dynamics of specific loops. These findings can help predict functionally beneficial or detrimental substitutions and guide rational enzyme engineering.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeremy H. Mills
Summary: Protein lipidation is a significant post-translational modification, and the introduction of new amino acids mimicking natural lipid modifications can facilitate the study of lipidated proteins.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anna C. Love, Donald R. Caldwell, Bethany Kolbaba-Kartchner, Katherine M. Townsend, Lila P. Halbers, Zi Yao, Caroline K. Brennan, Joseph Ivanic, Tanya Hadjian, Jeremy H. Mills, Martin J. Schnermann, Jennifer A. Prescher
Summary: To enable multicomponent bioluminescence imaging in vivo, we developed a new class of near-infrared emitting coumarin luciferin analogues (CouLuc-3s) that can penetrate tissues. These scaffolds were easily synthesized from commercially available dyes. We also identified mutant luciferases that can specifically interact with the CouLuc-3 analogues. The brightest probes allowed for sensitive in vivo imaging. The CouLuc-3 scaffolds are orthogonal to popular bioluminescent reporters, making them suitable for multicomponent imaging applications.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caroline K. Brennan, Zi Yao, Anastasia A. Ionkina, Colin M. Rathbun, Buvaneshwari Sathishkumar, Jennifer A. Prescher
Summary: This article introduces a new analysis pipeline and algorithm that enable faster, quantitative, and multiplexed bioluminescent readouts, thereby expanding the scope of bioluminescence technology.
CELL CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zi Yao, Donald R. Caldwell, Anna C. Love, Bethany Kolbaba-Kartchner, Jeremy H. Mills, Martin J. Schnermann, Jennifer A. Prescher
Summary: The study developed a new class of luciferins based on a red-shifted coumarin scaffold with excellent bioluminescent properties and the ability to emit near-infrared light. The novel luciferin scaffolds were structurally distinct from existing probes, allowing for rapid multi-component imaging.