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Krasitskaya VV, Bashmakova EE, Frank LA. Coelenterazine-Dependent Luciferases as a Powerful Analytical Tool for Research and Biomedical Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7465. [PMID: 33050422 PMCID: PMC7590018 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
: The functioning of bioluminescent systems in most of the known marine organisms is based on the oxidation reaction of the same substrate-coelenterazine (CTZ), catalyzed by luciferase. Despite the diversity in structures and the functioning mechanisms, these enzymes can be united into a common group called CTZ-dependent luciferases. Among these, there are two sharply different types of the system organization-Ca2+-regulated photoproteins and luciferases themselves that function in accordance with the classical enzyme-substrate kinetics. Along with deep and comprehensive fundamental research on these systems, approaches and methods of their practical use as highly sensitive reporters in analytics have been developed. The research aiming at the creation of artificial luciferases and synthetic CTZ analogues with new unique properties has led to the development of new experimental analytical methods based on them. The commercial availability of many ready-to-use assay systems based on CTZ-dependent luciferases is also important when choosing them by first-time-users. The development of analytical methods based on these bioluminescent systems is currently booming. The bioluminescent systems under consideration were successfully applied in various biological research areas, which confirms them to be a powerful analytical tool. In this review, we consider the main directions, results, and achievements in research involving these luciferases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasilisa V. Krasitskaya
- Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (V.V.K.); (E.E.B.)
| | - Eugenia E. Bashmakova
- Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (V.V.K.); (E.E.B.)
| | - Ludmila A. Frank
- Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (V.V.K.); (E.E.B.)
- School of Fundamental Biology and Biotechnology, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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Sharifian S, Homaei A, Hemmati R, B Luwor R, Khajeh K. The emerging use of bioluminescence in medical research. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 101:74-86. [PMID: 29477474 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.02.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescence is the light produced by a living organism and is commonly emitted by sea life with Ca2+-regulated photoproteins being the most responsible for bioluminescence emission. Marine coelenterates provide important functions involved in essential purposes such as defense, feeding, and breeding. In this review, the main characteristics of marine photoproteins including aequorin, clytin, obelin, berovin, pholasin and symplectin from different marine organisms will be discussed. We will focused on the recent use of recombinant photoproteins in different biomedical research fields including the measurement of Ca2+ in different intracellular compartments of animal cells, as labels in the design and development of binding assays. This review will also outline how bioluminescent photoproteins have been used in a plethora of analytical methods including ultra-sensitive assays and in vivo imaging of cellular processes. Due to their unique properties including elective intracellular distribution, wide dynamic range, high signal-to-noise ratio and low Ca2+-buffering effect, recombinant photoproteins represent a promising future analytical tool in several in vitro and in vivo experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Sharifian
- Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Ahmad Homaei
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
| | - Roohullah Hemmati
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Rodney B Luwor
- Department of Surgery, Level 5, Clinical Sciences Building, The University of Melbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia
| | - Khosro Khajeh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Turner K, Joel S, Feliciano J, Feltus A, Pasini P, Wynn D, Dau P, Dikici E, Deo SK, Daunert S. Transcriptional regulatory proteins as biosensing tools. Chem Commun (Camb) 2017; 53:6820-6823. [PMID: 28492634 PMCID: PMC6648647 DOI: 10.1039/c6cc09512g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We have developed sensing systems employing different classes of transcriptional regulatory proteins genetically and chemically modified to incorporate a fluorescent reporter molecule for detection of arsenic, hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs), and cyclic AMP (cAMP). These are the first examples of optical sensing systems based on transcriptional regulatory proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendrick Turner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
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Grinstead KM, Rowe L, Ensor CM, Joel S, Daftarian P, Dikici E, Zingg JM, Daunert S. Red-Shifted Aequorin Variants Incorporating Non-Canonical Amino Acids: Applications in In Vivo Imaging. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158579. [PMID: 27367859 PMCID: PMC4930207 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The increased importance of in vivo diagnostics has posed new demands for imaging technologies. In that regard, there is a need for imaging molecules capable of expanding the applications of current state-of-the-art imaging in vivo diagnostics. To that end, there is a desire for new reporter molecules capable of providing strong signals, are non-toxic, and can be tailored to diagnose or monitor the progression of a number of diseases. Aequorin is a non-toxic photoprotein that can be used as a sensitive marker for bioluminescence in vivo imaging. The sensitivity of aequorin is due to the fact that bioluminescence is a rare phenomenon in nature and, therefore, it does not suffer from autofluorescence, which contributes to background emission. Emission of bioluminescence in the blue-region of the spectrum by aequorin only occurs when calcium, and its luciferin coelenterazine, are bound to the protein and trigger a biochemical reaction that results in light generation. It is this reaction that endows aequorin with unique characteristics, making it ideally suited for a number of applications in bioanalysis and imaging. Herein we report the site-specific incorporation of non-canonical or non-natural amino acids and several coelenterazine analogues, resulting in a catalog of 72 cysteine-free, aequorin variants which expand the potential applications of these photoproteins by providing several red-shifted mutants better suited to use in vivo. In vivo studies in mouse models using the transparent tissue of the eye confirmed the activity of the aequorin variants incorporating L-4-iodophehylalanine and L-4-methoxyphenylalanine after injection into the eye and topical addition of coelenterazine. The signal also remained localized within the eye. This is the first time that aequorin variants incorporating non-canonical amino acids have shown to be active in vivo and useful as reporters in bioluminescence imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M. Grinstead
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, R. Bunn Gautier Bldg., 1011 NW 15th Street, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, United States of America
| | - Laura Rowe
- Department of Chemistry, 1610 Campus Drive East, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN, 46385, United States of America
| | - Charles M. Ensor
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, United States of America
| | - Smita Joel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, R. Bunn Gautier Bldg., 1011 NW 15th Street, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, United States of America
| | - Pirouz Daftarian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, R. Bunn Gautier Bldg., 1011 NW 15th Street, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, United States of America
| | - Emre Dikici
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, R. Bunn Gautier Bldg., 1011 NW 15th Street, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, United States of America
| | - Jean-Marc Zingg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, R. Bunn Gautier Bldg., 1011 NW 15th Street, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, United States of America
| | - Sylvia Daunert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, R. Bunn Gautier Bldg., 1011 NW 15th Street, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, United States of America
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Grinstead K, Joel S, Zingg JM, Dikici E, Daunert S. Enabling Aequorin for Biotechnology Applications Through Genetic Engineering. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2015:149-179. [PMID: 26475468 DOI: 10.1007/10_2015_336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, luminescent proteins have been studied for their potential application in a variety of detection systems. Bioluminescent proteins, which do not require an external excitation source, are especially well-suited as reporters in analytical detection. The photoprotein aequorin is a bioluminescent protein that can be engineered for use as a molecular reporter under a wide range of conditions while maintaining its sensitivity. Herein, the characteristics of aequorin as well as the engineering and production of aequorin variants and their impact on signal detection in biological systems are presented. The structural features and activity of aequorin, its benefits as a label for sensing and applications in highly sensitive detection, as well as in gaining insight into biological processes are discussed. Among those, focus has been placed on the highly sensitive calcium detection in vivo, in vitro DNA and small molecule sensing, and development of in vivo imaging technologies. Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Grinstead
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Smita Joel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Jean-Marc Zingg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Emre Dikici
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Sylvia Daunert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
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Application of enzyme bioluminescence for medical diagnostics. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 144:175-97. [PMID: 25084998 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-43385-0_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nowadays luciferases are effectively used as analytical instruments in a great variety of research fields. Of special interest are the studies dealing with elaboration of novel analytical systems for the purposes of medical diagnostics. The ever-expanding spectrum of clinically important analytes accounts for the increasing demand for new techniques for their detection. In this chapter we have made an attempt to summarize the results on applications of luciferases as reporters in binding assays including immunoassay, nucleic acid hybridization assay, and so on. The data over the last 15 years have been analyzed and clearly show that luciferase-based assays, due to extremely high sensitivity, low cost, and the lack of need for skilled personnel, hold much promise for clinical diagnostics.
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Michelini E, Cevenini L, Calabretta MM, Spinozzi S, Camborata C, Roda A. Field-deployable whole-cell bioluminescent biosensors: so near and yet so far. Anal Bioanal Chem 2013; 405:6155-63. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-013-7043-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Revised: 04/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Teasley Hamorsky K, Ensor CM, Dikici E, Pasini P, Bachas L, Daunert S. Bioluminescence inhibition assay for the detection of hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls. Anal Chem 2012; 84:7648-55. [PMID: 22908962 DOI: 10.1021/ac301872u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) are an important class of contaminants that mainly originate from polychlorinated biphenyl metabolism. They may conceivably be as dangerous and persistent as the parent compounds; most prominently, OH-PCBs are endocrine disruptors. Due to increasing evidence of the presence of OH-PCBs in the environment and in living organisms, including humans, and of their toxicity, methods of detection for OH-PCBs are needed in the environmental and medical fields. Herein, we describe the development and optimization of a protein-based inhibition assay for the quantification of OH-PCBs. Specifically, the photoprotein aequorin was utilized for the detection of OH-PCBs. We hypothesized that OH-PCBs interact with aequorin, and we established that OH-PCBs actually inhibit the bioluminescence of aequorin in a dose-dependent manner. We took advantage of this phenomenon to develop an assay that is capable of detecting a wide variety of OH-PCBs with a range of detection limits, the best detection limit being 11 nM for the compound 2-hydroxy-2',3,4',5',6-pentachorobiphenyl. The viability of this system for the screening of OH-PCBs in spiked biological and environmental samples was also established. We envision the implementation of this novel bioluminescence inhibition assay as a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective method for monitoring OH-PCBs. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time aequorin has been employed to detect an analyte by the inhibition of its bioluminescence reaction. Hence, this strategy may prove to be a general approach for the development of a new generation of protein-based inhibition assays.
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Hamorsky KT, Ensor CM, Pasini P, Daunert S. A protein switch sensing system for the quantification of sulfate. Anal Biochem 2011; 421:172-80. [PMID: 22067979 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2011.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2011] [Revised: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 10/13/2011] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Protein engineering has generated versatile methods and technologies that have been instrumental in advancements in the fields of sensing, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Herein, we demonstrate the employment of rational design to engineer a unique bioluminescence-based protein switch. A fusion protein switch combines two totally unrelated proteins, with distinct characteristics, in a manner such that the function of one protein is dependent on another. Herein we report a protein switch sensing system by insertion of the sulfate-binding protein (SBP) into the structure of the photoprotein aequorin (AEQ). In the presence of sulfate, SBP undergoes a conformational change bringing the two segments of AEQ together, "turning on" bioluminescence in a dose-dependent fashion, thus allowing quantitative detection of sulfate. A calibration plot was obtained by correlating the amount of bioluminescence generated with the concentration of sulfate present. The switch demonstrated selectivity and reproducibility, and a detection limit of 1.6×10(-4)M for sulfate. Moreover, the sensing system was validated by performing sulfate detection in clinical and environmental samples, such as, serum, urine, and tap water. The detection limits and working ranges in all three samples fall within the average normal/recommended sulfate levels in the respective matrices.
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