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Dunuweera AN, Dunuweera SP, Ranganathan K. A Comprehensive Exploration of Bioluminescence Systems, Mechanisms, and Advanced Assays for Versatile Applications. Biochem Res Int 2024; 2024:8273237. [PMID: 38347947 PMCID: PMC10861286 DOI: 10.1155/2024/8273237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescence has been a fascinating natural phenomenon of light emission from living creatures. It happens when the enzyme luciferase facilitates the oxidation of luciferin, resulting in the creation of an excited-state species that emits light. Although there are many bioluminescent systems, few have been identified. D-luciferin-dependent systems, coelenterazine-dependent systems, Cypridina luciferin-based systems, tetrapyrrole-based luciferins, bacterial bioluminescent systems, and fungal bioluminescent systems are natural bioluminescent systems. Since different bioluminescence systems, such as various combinations of luciferin-luciferase pair reactions, have different light emission wavelengths, they benefit industrial applications such as drug discovery, protein-protein interactions, in vivo imaging in small animals, and controlling neurons. Due to the expression of luciferase and easy permeation of luciferin into most cells and tissues, bioluminescence assays are applied nowadays with modern technologies in most cell and tissue types. It is a versatile technique in a variety of biomedical research. Furthermore, there are some investigated blue-sky research projects, such as bioluminescent plants and lamps. This review article is mainly based on the theory of diverse bioluminescence systems and their past, present, and future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - K. Ranganathan
- Department of Botany, University of Jaffna, Jaffna 40000, Sri Lanka
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Chang CH, Fontaine DM, Gómez S, Branchini BR, Anderson JC. Synthesis and Bioluminescence of 'V'-Shaped Firefly Luciferin Analogues Based on A Novel Benzobisthiazole Core. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202302204. [PMID: 37743319 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202302204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The design of π-extended conjugation 'V'-shaped red shifted bioluminescent D-luciferin analogues based on a novel benzobisthiazole core is described. The divergent synthetic route allowed access to a range of amine donor substituents through an SN Ar reaction. In spectroscopic studies, the 'V'-shaped luciferins exhibited narrower optical band gaps, more red-shifted absorption and emission spectra than D-luciferin. Their bioluminescence characteristics were recorded against four different luciferases (PpyLuc, FlucRed, CBR2 and PLR3). With native luciferase PpyLuc, the 'V'-shaped luciferins demonstrated more red-shifted emissions than D-luciferin (λbl =561 nm) by 60 to 80 nm. In addition, the benzobisthiazole luciferins showed a wide range of bioluminescence spectra from the visible light region (λbl =500 nm) to the nIR window (>650 nm). The computational results validate the design concept which can be used as a guide for further novel D-luciferin analogues based upon other 'V'-shaped heterocyclic cores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hao Chang
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | | | - Sandra Gómez
- Departamento de Quimica Fisica, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
| | - Bruce R Branchini
- Department of Chemistry, Connecticut College, New London, CT-06320, USA
| | - James C Anderson
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
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Chang CH, Gómez S, Fontaine DM, Fikas P, Branchini BR, Anderson JC. Bioluminescence, photophysical, computational and molecular docking studies of fully conformationally restricted enamine infraluciferin. Org Biomol Chem 2023; 21:2941-2949. [PMID: 36928464 DOI: 10.1039/d3ob00247k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
A new rationally designed fully rotationally restricted luciferin has been synthesised. This synthetic luciferin, based upon the structure of infraluciferin, has two intramolecular H-bonds to reduce degrees of freedom, an amine group to enhance ICT process, and an alkenyl group to increase π-conjugation. In the spectroscopic measurements and computational calculations, enamine luciferin showed more red-shifted absorption and fluorescence emission than LH2 and iLH2. With PpyWT luciferase enamine luciferin gave bioluminescence at 564 nm which is similar to LH2 at 561 nm. Further investigation by docking studies revealed that the emission wavelength of enamine luciferin might be attributed to the unwanted twisted structure caused by Asp531 within the enzyme. With mutant luciferase FlucRed, the major emission peak was shifted to 606 nm, a distinct shoulder above 700 nm, and 21% of its spectrum located in the nIR range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hao Chang
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
| | - Sandra Gómez
- Departamento de Quimica Fisica, University of Salamanca, 37008, Spain
| | | | - Panagiotis Fikas
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
| | - Bruce R Branchini
- Department of Chemistry, Connecticut College, New London, CT 06320, USA
| | - James C Anderson
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
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Satalkar V, Benassi E, Mao Y, Pan X, Ran C, Chen X, Shao Y. Computational Investigation of Substituent Effects on the Fluorescence Wavelengths of Oxyluciferin Analogs. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2022; 431:114018. [PMID: 36407037 PMCID: PMC9673899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2022.114018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Oxyluciferin, which is the light emitter for firefly bioluminescence, has been subjected to extensive chemical modifications to tune its emission wavelength and quantum yield. However, the exact mechanisms for various electron-donating and withdrawing groups to perturb the photophysical properties of oxyluciferin analogs are still not fully understood. To elucidate the substituent effects on the fluorescence wavelength of oxyluciferin analogs, we applied the absolutely localized molecular orbitals (ALMO)-based frontier orbital analysis to assess various types of interactions (i.e. permanent electrostatics/exchange repulsion, polarization, occupied-occupied orbital mixing, virtual-virtual orbital mixing, and charge-transfer) between the oxyluciferin and substituent orbitals. We suggested two distinct mechanisms that can lead to red-shifted oxyluciferin emission wavelength, a design objective that can help increase the tissue penetration of bioluminescence emission. Within the first mechanism, an electron-donating group (such as an amino or dimethylamino group) can contribute its highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to an out-of-phase combination with oxyluciferin's HOMO, thus raising the HOMO energy of the substituted analog and narrowing its HOMO-LUMO gap. Alternatively, an electron-withdrawing group (such as a nitro or cyano group) can participate in an in-phase virtual-virtual orbital mixing of fragment LUMOs, thus lowering the LUMO energy of the substituted analog. Such an ALMO-based frontier orbital analysis is expected to lead to intuitive principles for designing analogs of not only the oxyluciferin molecule, but also many other functional dyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vardhan Satalkar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Enrico Benassi
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Yuezhi Mao
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Xiaoliang Pan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Chongzhao Ran
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117597, Singapore
| | - Yihan Shao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
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Zhao P, Wu X, Li J, Dong G, Sun Y, Ma Z, Li M, Du L. Discovery of alkene-conjugated luciferins for redshifted and improved bioluminescence imaging in vitro and in vivo. Org Biomol Chem 2022; 20:4224-4230. [PMID: 35551298 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob02477a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The firefly luciferase system is the most extensively utilized bioluminescence system in the field of life science at the moment. In this work, we designed and synthesized a series of alkene-conjugated luciferins to develop new firefly bioluminescence substrates, and further evaluated their activities in vitro and in vivo. It is worth noting that the maximum biological emission wavelength of novel luciferin analogue AL3 ((S,E)-2-(6-hydroxy-5-(3-methoxy-3-oxoprop-1-en-1-yl)benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole-4-carboxylic acid) is 100 nm red-shifted compared with D-luciferin, while that of analogue AL4 ((S,E)-2-(5-(2-cyanovinyl)-6-hydroxybenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole-4-carboxylic acid) is 75 nm red-shifted. The new substrate AL2 ((S,E)-2-(6-hydroxy-7-(3-methoxy-3-oxoprop-1-en-1-yl)benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole-4-carboxylic acid) showed better bioluminescence performance in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
| | - Xiaokang Wu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
| | - Gaopan Dong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
| | - Yingai Sun
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
| | - Zhao Ma
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
| | - Minyong Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
| | - Lupei Du
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
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Abstract
An efficient construction of amides through NHC-mediated oxidation of imines is described. This work has the advantages of wide scope, fast assembly and high yield, and can avoid the use of coupling agents, such as HATU, DCC, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaofa Sun
- College of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei, 437100, China
| | - Donghui Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Fangyi Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Jian Wang
- College of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei, 437100, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
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Takakura H. Molecular Design of d-Luciferin-Based Bioluminescence and 1,2-Dioxetane-Based Chemiluminescence Substrates for Altered Output Wavelength and Detecting Various Molecules. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26061618. [PMID: 33803935 PMCID: PMC7998607 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Optical imaging including fluorescence and luminescence is the most popular method for the in vivo imaging in mice. Luminescence imaging is considered to be superior to fluorescence imaging due to the lack of both autofluorescence and the scattering of excitation light. To date, various luciferin analogs and bioluminescence probes have been developed for deep tissue and molecular imaging. Recently, chemiluminescence probes have been developed based on a 1,2-dioxetane scaffold. In this review, the accumulated findings of numerous studies and the design strategies of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence imaging reagents are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideo Takakura
- Laboratory of Bioanalysis and Molecular Imaging, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0812, Japan
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Luker KE. Molecular Imaging of Cellular Signaling Pathways. Mol Imaging 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816386-3.00044-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Li S, Ruan Z, Zhang H, Xu H. Recent achievements of bioluminescence imaging based on firefly luciferin-luciferase system. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 211:113111. [PMID: 33360804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a newly developed noninvasive visual approach which facilitates the understanding of a plethora of biological processes in vitro and in vivo due to the high sensitivity, resolution and selectivity, low background signal, and the lack of external light excitation. BLI based on firefly luciferin-luciferase system has been widely used for the activity evaluation of tumor-specific enzymes, for the detection of diseases-related bioactive small molecules and metal ions, and for the diagnosis and therapy of diseases including the studies of drug transport, the research of immune response, and the evaluation of drug potency and tissue distribution. In this review, we highlight the recent achievements in luciferin derivatives with red-shifted emission spectra, mutant luciferase-luciferin pairs, and the diagnostic and therapeutic application of BLI based on firefly luciferin-luciferase system. The development and application of BLI will expand our knowledge of the occurrence and development of diseases and shed light on the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Zhiyang Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R&D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.
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Ikeda Y, Tanaka M, Nishihara R, Hiruta Y, Citterio D, Suzuki K, Niwa K. Quantitative evaluation of luminescence intensity from enzymatic luminescence reaction of coelenterazine and analogues. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2020.112459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Ikeda Y, Nomoto T, Hiruta Y, Nishiyama N, Citterio D. Ring-Fused Firefly Luciferins: Expanded Palette of Near-Infrared Emitting Bioluminescent Substrates. Anal Chem 2020; 92:4235-4243. [PMID: 31971368 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Firefly bioluminescence is broadly applied as a noninvasive imaging modality in the biomedical research field. One limitation in firefly bioluminescence imaging is the limited variety of luciferins emitting in the near-infrared (NIR) region (650-900 nm), where tissue penetration is high. Herein, we describe a series of structure-inherent NIR emitting firefly luciferin analogues, NIRLucs, designed through a ring fusion strategy. This strategy resulted in pH-independent structure-inherent NIR emission with a native firefly luciferase, which was theoretically supported by quantum chemical calculations of the oxidized form of each luciferin. When applied to cells, NIRLucs displayed dose-independent improved NIR emission even at low concentrations where the native d-luciferin substrate does not emit. Additionally, excellent blood retention and brighter photon flux (7-fold overall, 16-fold in the NIR spectral range) than in the case of d-luciferin have been observed with one of the NIRLucs in mice bearing subcutaneous tumors. We believe that these synthetic luciferins provide a solution to the longstanding limitation in the variety of NIR emitting luciferins and pave the way to the further development of NIR bioluminescence imaging platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuma Ikeda
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan
| | - Takahiro Nomoto
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Yuki Hiruta
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nishiyama
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Daniel Citterio
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan
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Zemmouche M, García-Iriepa C, Navizet I. Light emission colour modulation study of oxyluciferin synthetic analogues via QM and QM/MM approaches. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:82-91. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp04687a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Study of emission spectra of three analogues of firefly oxyluciferin in gas phase, in water (PCM) and in protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madjid Zemmouche
- Université Paris-Est
- Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation Multi Échelle
- MSME UMR 8208 CNRS
- UPEM
- 77454 Marne-la-Vallée
| | - Cristina García-Iriepa
- Université Paris-Est
- Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation Multi Échelle
- MSME UMR 8208 CNRS
- UPEM
- 77454 Marne-la-Vallée
| | - Isabelle Navizet
- Université Paris-Est
- Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation Multi Échelle
- MSME UMR 8208 CNRS
- UPEM
- 77454 Marne-la-Vallée
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