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Al-Handawi MB, Polavaram S, Kurlevskaya A, Commins P, Schramm S, Carrasco-López C, Lui NM, Solntsev KM, Laptenok SP, Navizet I, Naumov P. Spectrochemistry of Firefly Bioluminescence. Chem Rev 2022; 122:13207-13234. [PMID: 35926147 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c01047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The chemical reactions underlying the emission of light in fireflies and other bioluminescent beetles are some of the most thoroughly studied processes by scientists worldwide. Despite these remarkable efforts, fierce academic arguments continue around even some of the most fundamental aspects of the reaction mechanism behind the beetle bioluminescence. In an attempt to reach a consensus, we made an exhaustive search of the available literature and compiled the key discoveries on the fluorescence and chemiluminescence spectrochemistry of the emitting molecule, the firefly oxyluciferin, and its chemical analogues reported over the past 50+ years. The factors that affect the light emission, including intermolecular interactions, solvent polarity, and electronic effects, were analyzed in the context of both the reaction mechanism and the different colors of light emitted by different luciferases. The collective data points toward a combined emission of multiple coexistent forms of oxyluciferin as the most probable explanation for the variation in color of the emitted light. We also highlight realistic research directions to eventually address some of the remaining questions related to firefly bioluminescence. It is our hope that this extensive compilation of data and detailed analysis will not only consolidate the existing body of knowledge on this important phenomenon but will also aid in reaching a wider consensus on some of the mechanistic details of firefly bioluminescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieh B Al-Handawi
- Smart Materials Lab (SML), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Srujana Polavaram
- Smart Materials Lab (SML), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Anastasiya Kurlevskaya
- Smart Materials Lab (SML), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Patrick Commins
- Smart Materials Lab (SML), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Stefan Schramm
- Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - César Carrasco-López
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Nathan M Lui
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Kyril M Solntsev
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Sergey P Laptenok
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Isabelle Navizet
- Univ. Gustave Eiffel, Univ. Paris Est Creteil, CNRS, UMR 8208, MSME, F-77454 Marne-la-Vallée, France
| | - Panče Naumov
- Smart Materials Lab (SML), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.,Molecular Design Institute, Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, New York 10003, United States
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2
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Siepi M, Oliva R, Masino A, Gaglione R, Arciello A, Russo R, Di Maro A, Zanfardino A, Varcamonti M, Petraccone L, Del Vecchio P, Merola M, Pizzo E, Notomista E, Cafaro V. Environment-Sensitive Fluorescent Labelling of Peptides by Luciferin Analogues. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413312. [PMID: 34948103 PMCID: PMC8706149 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Environment-sensitive fluorophores are very valuable tools in the study of molecular and cellular processes. When used to label proteins and peptides, they allow for the monitoring of even small variations in the local microenvironment, thus acting as reporters of conformational variations and binding events. Luciferin and aminoluciferin, well known substrates of firefly luciferase, are environment-sensitive fluorophores with unusual and still-unexploited properties. Both fluorophores show strong solvatochromism. Moreover, luciferin fluorescence is influenced by pH and water abundance. These features allow to detect local variations of pH, solvent polarity and local water concentration, even when they occur simultaneously, by analyzing excitation and emission spectra. Here, we describe the characterization of (amino)luciferin-labeled derivatives of four bioactive peptides: the antimicrobial peptides GKY20 and ApoBL, the antitumor peptide p53pAnt and the integrin-binding peptide RGD. The two probes allowed for the study of the interaction of the peptides with model membranes, SDS micelles, lipopolysaccharide micelles and Escherichia coli cells. Kd values and binding stoichiometries for lipopolysaccharide were also determined. Aminoluciferin also proved to be very well-suited to confocal laser scanning microscopy. Overall, the characterization of the labeled peptides demonstrates that luciferin and aminoluciferin are previously neglected environment-sensitive labels with widespread potential applications in the study of proteins and peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Siepi
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.S.); (A.M.); (A.Z.); (M.V.); (M.M.); (E.P.); (V.C.)
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.O.); (R.G.); (A.A.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Antonio Masino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.S.); (A.M.); (A.Z.); (M.V.); (M.M.); (E.P.); (V.C.)
| | - Rosa Gaglione
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.O.); (R.G.); (A.A.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Angela Arciello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.O.); (R.G.); (A.A.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Rosita Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (R.R.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Antimo Di Maro
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (R.R.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Anna Zanfardino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.S.); (A.M.); (A.Z.); (M.V.); (M.M.); (E.P.); (V.C.)
| | - Mario Varcamonti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.S.); (A.M.); (A.Z.); (M.V.); (M.M.); (E.P.); (V.C.)
| | - Luigi Petraccone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.O.); (R.G.); (A.A.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.O.); (R.G.); (A.A.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Marcello Merola
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.S.); (A.M.); (A.Z.); (M.V.); (M.M.); (E.P.); (V.C.)
| | - Elio Pizzo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.S.); (A.M.); (A.Z.); (M.V.); (M.M.); (E.P.); (V.C.)
| | - Eugenio Notomista
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.S.); (A.M.); (A.Z.); (M.V.); (M.M.); (E.P.); (V.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Valeria Cafaro
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.S.); (A.M.); (A.Z.); (M.V.); (M.M.); (E.P.); (V.C.)
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Viviani VR, Bevilaqua VR, de Souza DR, Pelentir GF, Kakiuchi M, Hirano T. A Very Bright Far-Red Bioluminescence Emitting Combination Based on Engineered Railroad Worm Luciferase and 6'-Amino-Analogs for Bioimaging Purposes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:E303. [PMID: 33396708 PMCID: PMC7794784 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Beetle luciferases produce bioluminescence (BL) colors ranging from green to red, having been extensively used for many bioanalytical purposes, including bioimaging of pathogen infections and metastasis proliferation in living animal models and cell culture. For bioimaging purposes in mammalian tissues, red bioluminescence is preferred, due to the lower self-absorption of light at longer wavelengths by hemoglobin, myoglobin and melanin. Red bioluminescence is naturally produced only by Phrixothrix hirtus railroad worm luciferase (PxRE), and by some engineered beetle luciferases. However, Far-Red (FR) and Near-Infrared (NIR) bioluminescence is best suited for bioimaging in mammalian tissues due to its higher penetrability. Although some FR and NIR emitting luciferin analogs have been already developed, they usually emit much lower bioluminescence activity when compared to the original luciferin-luciferases. Using site-directed mutagenesis of PxRE luciferase in combination with 6'-modified amino-luciferin analogs, we finally selected novel FR combinations displaying BL ranging from 636-655 nm. Among them, the combination of PxRE-R215K mutant with 6'-(1-pyrrolidinyl)luciferin proved to be the best combination, displaying the highest BL activity with a catalytic efficiency ~2.5 times higher than the combination with native firefly luciferin, producing the second most FR-shifted bioluminescence (650 nm), being several orders of magnitude brighter than commercial AkaLumine with firefly luciferase. Such combination also showed higher thermostability, slower BL decay time and better penetrability across bacterial cell membranes, resulting in ~3 times higher in vivo BL activity in bacterial cells than with firefly luciferin. Overall, this is the brightest FR emitting combination ever reported, and is very promising for bioimaging purposes in mammalian tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim R. Viviani
- Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), 18052-780 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil;
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), 18119-001 Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil;
| | - Vanessa R. Bevilaqua
- Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), 18052-780 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil;
| | - Daniel R. de Souza
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), 18119-001 Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil;
| | - Gabriel F. Pelentir
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), 18052-780 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil;
| | - Michio Kakiuchi
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan; (M.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Takashi Hirano
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan; (M.K.); (T.H.)
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4
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Gosset P, Taupier G, Crégut O, Brazard J, Mély Y, Dorkenoo KD, Léonard J, Didier P. Excited-State Proton Transfer in Oxyluciferin and Its Analogues. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:3653-3659. [PMID: 32310668 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c00839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
One of the most characterized bioluminescent reactions involves the firefly luciferase that catalyzes the oxidation of the luciferin producing oxyluciferin in its first excited state. While relaxing to the ground state, oxyluciferin emits visible light with an emission maximum that can vary from green to red. Oxyluciferin exists under six different chemical forms resulting from a keto/enol tautomerization and the deprotonation of the phenol or enol moieties. The optical properties of each chemical form have been recently characterized by the investigations of a variety of oxyluciferin derivatives, indicating unresolved excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) reactions. In this work, femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy are used to investigate the picosecond kinetics of the ESPT reactions and demonstrate the excited state keto to enol conversion of oxyluciferin and its derivatives in aqueous buffer as a function of pH. A comprehensive photophysical scheme is provided describing the complex luminescence pathways of oxyluciferin in protic solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Gosset
- Institut de Physique et de Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR 7504, Strasbourg, France
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Grégory Taupier
- Institut de Physique et de Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR 7504, Strasbourg, France
| | - Olivier Crégut
- Institut de Physique et de Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR 7504, Strasbourg, France
| | - Johanna Brazard
- Institut de Physique et de Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR 7504, Strasbourg, France
| | - Yves Mély
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Kokou-Dodzi Dorkenoo
- Institut de Physique et de Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR 7504, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jérémie Léonard
- Institut de Physique et de Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR 7504, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pascal Didier
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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5
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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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6
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Manuel de Almeida Barbosa N, Zemmouche M, Gosset P, García‐Iriepa C, Ledentu V, Navizet I, Didier P, Ferré N. pH‐Dependent Absorption Spectrum of Oxyluciferin Analogues in the Presence of Adenosine Monophosphate. CHEMPHOTOCHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/cptc.201900150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Madjid Zemmouche
- Université Paris-Est, Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation Multi ÉchelleMSME UMR 8208 CNRS, UPEM 5 bd Descartes 77454 Marne-la-Vallée France
| | - Pauline Gosset
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRSLaboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies UMR 7021 67034 Strasbourg France
| | - Cristina García‐Iriepa
- Université Paris-Est, Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation Multi ÉchelleMSME UMR 8208 CNRS, UPEM 5 bd Descartes 77454 Marne-la-Vallée France
- Departmento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería QuímicaUniversidad de Alcalá, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona Km 33,600 28871 Alcalá de Henares Spain
| | | | - Isabelle Navizet
- Université Paris-Est, Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation Multi ÉchelleMSME UMR 8208 CNRS, UPEM 5 bd Descartes 77454 Marne-la-Vallée France
| | - Pascal Didier
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRSLaboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies UMR 7021 67034 Strasbourg France
| | - Nicolas Ferré
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, ICR 13013 Marseille France
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7
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Bevilaqua VR, Matsuhashi T, Oliveira G, Oliveira PSL, Hirano T, Viviani VR. Phrixotrix luciferase and 6'-aminoluciferins reveal a larger luciferin phenolate binding site and provide novel far-red combinations for bioimaging purposes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8998. [PMID: 31227722 PMCID: PMC6588592 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44534-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
How the unique luciferase of Phrixothrix hirtus (PxRE) railroad worm catalyzes the emission of red bioluminescence using the same luciferin of fireflies, remains a mystery. Although PxRE luciferase is a very attractive tool for bioanalysis and bioimaging in hemoglobin rich tissues, it displays lower quantum yield (15%) when compared to green emitting luciferases (>40%). To identify which parts of PxRE luciferin binding site (LBS) determine bioluminescence color, and to develop brighter and more red-shifted emitting luciferases, we compared the effects of site-directed mutagenesis and of larger 6′-substituted aminoluciferin analogues (6′-morpholino- and 6′-pyrrolidinyl-LH) on the bioluminescence properties of PxRE and green-yellow emitting beetle luciferases. The effects of mutations in the benzothiazolyl and thiazolyl parts of PxRE LBS on the KM and catalytic efficiencies, indicated their importance for luciferin binding and catalysis. However, the absence of effects on the bioluminescence spectrum indicated a less interactive LBS in PxRE during light emission. Mutations at the bottom of LBS of PxRE blue-shifted the spectra and increased catalytic efficiency, suggesting that lack of interactions of this part of LBS with excited oxyluciferin phenolate underlie red light emission. The much higher bioluminescence activity and red-shifted spectra of PxRE luciferase with 6′-morpholino- (634 nm) and 6′-pyrrolidinyl-luciferins (644 nm), when compared to other beetle luciferases, revealed a larger luciferin phenolate binding pocket. The size and orientation of the side-chains of L/I/H348 are critical for amino-analogues accommodation and modulate bioluminescence color, affecting the interactions and mobility of excited oxyluciferin phenolate. The PxRE luciferase and 6′-aminoluciferins provide potential far-red combinations for bioimaging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- V R Bevilaqua
- Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - T Matsuhashi
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo, 182-8585, Japan
| | - G Oliveira
- Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - P S L Oliveira
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Zip Code 13083-970, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - T Hirano
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo, 182-8585, Japan
| | - V R Viviani
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rodovia João Leme dos Santos, km 110, Itinga, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil. .,Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
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8
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Misawa R, Matsuhashi C, Yamaji M, Mutai T, Yoshikawa I, Houjou H, Noguchi K, Maki S, Hirano T. Halogen-substituent effect on the spectroscopic properties of 2-phenyl-6-dimethylaminobenzothiazoles. Tetrahedron Lett 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2019.05.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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9
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Takahashi Y, Uehara T, Matsuhashi C, Yamaji M, Mutai T, Yoshikawa I, Houjou H, Kitagawa K, Suenobu T, Maki S, Hirano T. Spectroscopic properties of push-pull 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-6-dimethylaminobenzothiazole derivatives in solution and the solid state. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2019.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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10
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Vreven T, Miller SC. Computational investigation into the fluorescence of luciferin analogues. J Comput Chem 2019; 40:527-531. [PMID: 30548653 PMCID: PMC6296777 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.25745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Luciferin analogues that display bioluminescence at specific wavelengths can broaden the scope of imaging and biological assays, but the need to design and synthesize many new analogues can be time-consuming. Employing a collection of previously synthesized and characterized aminoluciferin analogues, we demonstrate that computational TD-DFT methods can accurately reproduce and further explain the experimentally measured fluorescence wavelengths. The best computational approach yields a correlation with experiment of r = 0.98, which we expect to guide and accelerate the further development of luciferin analogues. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thom Vreven
- Corresponding authors: Thom Vreven, Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, ASC-5th floor room 1079, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, Phone: 508-856-2272,
| | - Stephen C. Miller
- Stephen C. Miller, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, LRB 805, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester MA 01605, Phone 508-856-8865,
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11
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Mao Y, Head-Gordon M, Shao Y. Unraveling substituent effects on frontier orbitals of conjugated molecules using an absolutely localized molecular orbital based analysis. Chem Sci 2018; 9:8598-8607. [PMID: 30568785 PMCID: PMC6253684 DOI: 10.1039/c8sc02990c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It is common to introduce electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituent groups into functional conjugated molecules (such as dyes) to tune their electronic structure properties (such as frontier orbital energy levels) and photophysical properties (such as absorption and emission wavelengths). However, there lacks a generally applicable tool that can unravel the underlying interactions between orbitals from a substrate molecule and those from its substituents in modern electronic structure calculations, despite the long history of qualitative molecular orbital theory. In this work, the absolutely localized molecular orbitals (ALMO) based analysis is extended to analyze the effects of substituent groups on the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of a given system. This provides a bottom-up avenue towards quantification of effects from distinct physical origins (e.g. permanent electrostatics/Pauli repulsion, mutual polarization, inter-fragment orbital mixing). For the example case of prodan (a typical dye molecule), it is found that inter-fragment orbital mixing plays a key role in narrowing the HOMO-LUMO gap of the naphthalene core. Specifically, an out-of-phase mixing of high-lying occupied orbitals on the naphthalene core and the dimethylamino group leads to an elevated HOMO, whereas an in-phase combination of LUMOs on the naphthalene core and the propionyl group lowers the LUMO energy of the entire molecule. We expect this ALMO-based analysis to bridge the gap between concepts from qualitative orbital interaction analysis and quantitative electronic structure calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuezhi Mao
- Kenneth S. Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry , Department of Chemistry , University of California at Berkeley , Berkeley , CA 94720 , USA
| | - Martin Head-Gordon
- Kenneth S. Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry , Department of Chemistry , University of California at Berkeley , Berkeley , CA 94720 , USA
| | - Yihan Shao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of Oklahoma , Norman , Oklahoma 73019 , USA . ; Tel: +1 405 325 0442
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12
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The proton and metal binding sites responsible for the pH-dependent green-red bioluminescence color tuning in firefly luciferases. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17594. [PMID: 30514851 PMCID: PMC6279810 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33252-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Firefly luciferases produce yellow-green light under physiological and alkaline conditions, however at acidic pH, higher temperatures or in the presence of heavy metals the color changes to red, a property called pH-sensitivity. Despite many decades of studies, the proton and metal binding sites responsible for pH-sensitivity remain enigmatic. Previously we suggested that the salt bridge E311/R337 keeps a closed conformation of the luciferin phenolate binding site. Here we further investigated the effect of this salt bridge and mutations of the neighbor residues H310 and E/N354, on metal and pH-sensitivity of firefly luciferases emitting distinct bioluminescence colors (Cratomorphus distinctus: 548 nm; Macrolampis sp2: 569 nm). The substitutions of H310 and E/N354 modulate metal sensitivity, whereas the carboxylate of E311 may work as the catalytic base essential for green bioluminescence and pH-sensitivity. Modeling studies showed that H310, E311 and E354 side-chains coordinate Zinc, constituting the metal binding site and the pH-sensor. Electrostatic potential and pKa calculations suggest that the external couple H310/E354 is affected by pH, whereas E311/R337 make a stabilized internal pair which retains excited oxyluciferin ejected proton near its phenolate group into a high energy state, promoting yellow-green bioluminescence. Protonation or metal binding weaken these electrostatic gates and their ability to retain the excited oxyluciferin released proton near its phenolate, promoting red light emission.
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Cheng YY, Liu YJ. Theoretical Development of Near-Infrared Bioluminescent Systems. Chemistry 2018; 24:9340-9352. [PMID: 29710377 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201800416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The luciferin/luciferase system of the firefly has been used in bioluminescent imaging to monitor biological processes. In order to enhance the efficiency and expand the application range, some efforts have been made to tune the light emission, especially the effort to obtain NIR light. However, those case-by-case studies have not together revealed the nature and mechanism of the color tuning. In this paper, we theoretically investigated the fluorescence of all kinds of typical oxyluciferin analogues. The present systematical modifications of both oxyluciferin and luciferase indicate that the essential factor affecting the emission color is the charge distribution (or the electric dipole moment) on the oxyluciferin, which impacts on the charge transfer to form the light emitter and, subsequently, influence the strength and wavelength of the emission light. More negative charge distributed on the "thiazolone moiety" of the oxyluciferin or its analogues leads to a redshift. Based on this conclusion, we theoretically designed optimal pairs of luciferin analogue and luciferase for emitting NIR light, which could inspire new synthetic procedures and practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Yuan Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, P. R. China
| | - Ya-Jun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, P. R. China
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Berraud-Pache R, Lindh R, Navizet I. QM/MM Study of the Formation of the Dioxetanone Ring in Fireflies through a Superoxide Ion. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:5173-5182. [PMID: 29659277 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b00642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The bioluminescence emission from fireflies is an astounding tool to mark and view cells. However, the bioluminescent mechanism is not completely deciphered, limiting the comprehension of key processes. We use a theoretical approach to study for the first time the arrival of a dioxygen molecule inside the fireflies protein and one path of the formation of the dioxetanone ring, the high-energy intermediate precursor of the bioluminescence. To describe this reaction step, a joint approach combining classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations is used. The formation of the dioxetanone ring has been studied for both singlet and triplet states with the help of MS-CASPT2 calculations. We also emphasize the role played by the proteinic environment in the formation of the dioxetanone ring. The results obtained shed some light on an important reaction step and give new insights concerning the bioluminescence in fireflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Berraud-Pache
- Université Paris-Est, Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation Multi Echelle, MSME, UMR 8208 CNRS , UPEM , 5 bd Descartes , 77454 Marne-la-Vallée , France
| | - Roland Lindh
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström , University of Uppsala , P.O. Box 538, SE-751 21 Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Isabelle Navizet
- Université Paris-Est, Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation Multi Echelle, MSME, UMR 8208 CNRS , UPEM , 5 bd Descartes , 77454 Marne-la-Vallée , France
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Fujikawa T, Uehara T, Yamaji M, Kanetomo T, Ishida T, Maki S, Hirano T. Structure-fluorescence relationship of push-pull 2-phenylbenzothiazole derivatives designed based on the firefly light-emitter. Tetrahedron Lett 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2018.02.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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16
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Vacher M, Fdez Galván I, Ding BW, Schramm S, Berraud-Pache R, Naumov P, Ferré N, Liu YJ, Navizet I, Roca-Sanjuán D, Baader WJ, Lindh R. Chemi- and Bioluminescence of Cyclic Peroxides. Chem Rev 2018; 118:6927-6974. [PMID: 29493234 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Bioluminescence is a phenomenon that has fascinated mankind for centuries. Today the phenomenon and its sibling, chemiluminescence, have impacted society with a number of useful applications in fields like analytical chemistry and medicine, just to mention two. In this review, a molecular-orbital perspective is adopted to explain the chemistry behind chemiexcitation in both chemi- and bioluminescence. First, the uncatalyzed thermal dissociation of 1,2-dioxetane is presented and analyzed to explain, for example, the preference for triplet excited product states and increased yield with larger nonreactive substituents. The catalyzed fragmentation reaction and related details are then exemplified with substituted 1,2-dioxetanone species. In particular, the preference for singlet excited product states in that case is explained. The review also examines the diversity of specific solutions both in Nature and in artificial systems and the difficulties in identifying the emitting species and unraveling the color modulation process. The related subject of excited-state chemistry without light absorption is finally discussed. The content of this review should be an inspiration to human design of new molecular systems expressing unique light-emitting properties. An appendix describing the state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical methods used to study the phenomena serves as a complement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Vacher
- Department of Chemistry-Ångström , Uppsala University , P.O. Box 538, SE-751 21 Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Ignacio Fdez Galván
- Department of Chemistry-Ångström , Uppsala University , P.O. Box 538, SE-751 21 Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Bo-Wen Ding
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry , Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875 , China
| | - Stefan Schramm
- New York University Abu Dhabi , P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates
| | - Romain Berraud-Pache
- Université Paris-Est , Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation Multi Échelle, MSME, UMR 8208 CNRS, UPEM , 5 bd Descartes , 77454 Marne-la-Vallée , France
| | - Panče Naumov
- New York University Abu Dhabi , P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Ya-Jun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry , Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875 , China
| | - Isabelle Navizet
- Université Paris-Est , Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation Multi Échelle, MSME, UMR 8208 CNRS, UPEM , 5 bd Descartes , 77454 Marne-la-Vallée , France
| | - Daniel Roca-Sanjuán
- Institut de Ciència Molecular , Universitat de València , P.O. Box 22085 , Valencia , Spain
| | - Wilhelm J Baader
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química , Universidade de São Paulo , Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748 , 05508-000 São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | - Roland Lindh
- Department of Chemistry-Ångström , Uppsala University , P.O. Box 538, SE-751 21 Uppsala , Sweden.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , Harvard University , 12 Oxford Street , Cambridge , Massachusetts 02138 , United States
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Kiyama M, Iwano S, Otsuka S, Lu SW, Obata R, Miyawaki A, Hirano T, Maki SA. Quantum yield improvement of red-light-emitting firefly luciferin analogues for in vivo bioluminescence imaging. Tetrahedron 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2017.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Kakiuchi M, Ito S, Kiyama M, Goto F, Matsuhashi T, Yamaji M, Maki S, Hirano T. Electronic and Steric Effects of Cyclic Amino Substituents of Luciferin Analogues on a Firefly Luciferin–Luciferase Reaction. CHEM LETT 2017. [DOI: 10.1246/cl.170361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michio Kakiuchi
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585
| | - Soichiro Ito
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585
| | - Masahiro Kiyama
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585
| | - Fumiya Goto
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585
| | - Takuto Matsuhashi
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585
| | - Minoru Yamaji
- Division of Molecular Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515
| | - Shojiro Maki
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585
| | - Takashi Hirano
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585
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