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Li J, Liu W, Liu G, Dong Z, He J, Zhao R, Wang W, Li X. Cloning and characterization of luciferase from an Asian firefly Pygoluciola qingyu and its comparison with other beetle luciferases. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2024; 23:719-729. [PMID: 38441849 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-024-00547-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The bioluminescence system of luminescent beetles has extensive applications in biological imaging, protein labeling and drug screening. To explore wild luciferases with excellent catalytic activity and thermal stability, we cloned the luciferase of Pygoluciola qingyu, one species living in areas of high temperature and with strong bioluminescence, by combining transcriptomic sequencing and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The total length of luciferase gene is 1638 bp and the luciferase consists 544 amino acids. The recombinant P. qingyu luciferase was produced in vitro and its characteristics were compared with those of eight luciferases from China firefly species and two commercial luciferases. Compared with these luciferases, the P. qingyu luciferase shows the highest luminescence activity at room temperature (about 25-28 ℃) with similar KM value for D-luciferin and ATP to the Photinus pyralis luciferase. The P. qingyu luciferase activity was highest at 35 ℃ and can keep high activity at 30-40 ℃, which suggests the potential of P. qingyu luciferase for in vivo and cell application. Our results provide new insights into P. qingyu luciferase and give a new resource for the application of luciferases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Guichun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhiwei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Jinwu He
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Ruoping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Wen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China.
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Xueyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China.
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
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He JW, Liu GC, Dong PX, Dong ZW, Zhao RP, Wang W, Li XY. Molecular cloning, characterization, and evolution analysis of the luciferase genes from three sympatric sibling fireflies (Lampyridae: Lampyrinae, Diaphanes). Photochem Photobiol Sci 2021; 20:1053-1067. [PMID: 34347281 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-021-00080-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Firefly adult bioluminescence functions as signal communication between sexes. How sympatric sibling species with similar glow pattern recognize their conspecific mates remains largely unknown. To better understand the role of the luciferases of sympatric fireflies in recognizing mates, we cloned the luciferase genes of three sympatric forest dwelling fireflies (Diaphanes nubilus, Diaphanes pectinealis, and Diaphanes sp2) and evaluated their enzyme characteristics. Our data show that the amino acid (AA) sequences of all three luciferases are highly conserved, including the identities (D. nubilus vs D. pectinealis: 99%; D. nubilus vs Diaphanes sp2: 98.5%; D. pectinealis vs Diaphanes sp2: 99.4%) and the protein structures. Three recombinant luciferases produced in vitro all possess significant luminescence activity at pH 7.8, and similar maximum emission spectrum (D. nubilus: 562 nm; D. pectinealis and Diaphanes sp2: 564 nm). They show the highest activity at 10 °C (D. pectinealis, Diaphanes sp2) and 15 °C (D. nubilus), and completely inactivation at 45 °C. Their KM for D-luciferin and ATP were 2.7 μM and 92 μM (D. nubilus), 3.7 μM and 49 μM (D. pectinealis), 3.5 μM and 46 μM (Diaphanes sp2). Phylogenetic analyses support that D. nubilus is sister to D. pectinealis with Diaphanes sp2 at their base, which further cluster with Pyrocoelia. All combined data indicate that sympatric Diaphanes species have similar luciferase characteristics, suggesting that other strategies (e.g., pheromone, active time, etc.) may be adopted to recognize mates. Our data provide new insights into Diaphanes luciferases and their evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Wu He
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Gui-Chun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Ping-Xuan Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
- Dezhou University, Dezhou, 253023, Shandong, China
| | - Zhi-Wei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Ruo-Ping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Wen Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.
| | - Xue-Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.
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Liu G, Dong Z, Hou Q, He J, Zhao R, Wang W, Li X. Second Rhagophthalmid Luciferase Cloned from Chinese Glow‐worm
Menghuoius giganteus
(Rhagophthalmidae: Elateroidea). Photochem Photobiol 2019; 96:46-54. [DOI: 10.1111/php.13172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gui‐Chun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience & Biotechnology Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi’an China
| | - Zhi‐Wei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China
| | - Qing‐Bai Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China
| | - Jin‐Wu He
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience & Biotechnology Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi’an China
| | - Ruo‐Ping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China
| | - Wen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience & Biotechnology Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi’an China
| | - Xue‐Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China
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Genomic and protein structure analysis of the luciferase from the Iranian bioluminescent beetle, Luciola sp. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 124:689-698. [PMID: 30502432 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.11.264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
To date, two Iranian luciferase genes from the Lampyris turkestanicus and Lampyroidea maculata have been carefully studied. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of the gene and protein of luciferase enzyme from the beetle of an Iranian lampyrid species, Luciola sp. (Coleoptera-Lampyridae). In this study, a Luciola sp. firefly was collected from the Yasouj area of Iran and its luciferase gene sequence was cloned and characterized. The genomic DNA length for this luciferase was the 1950 bp that combined of seven exons and separated by six introns. The results of multiple sequence alignment show that this gene has the most similarity with DNA gene luciferase from the Hotaria unmunsana species. Further analysis determined accurately the location of these introns in the luciferase gene. However, the deduced amino acid sequences of the luciferase gene (548 residues) showed that this luciferase had 97.8% resemblance to luciferase from Lampyroidea maculata species. By in silico modeling of firefly luciferase in an I-TASSER server, the 3D structure of this enzyme was evaluated. The results of phylogenetic tree analysis display the close evolutionary relationship of this luciferase gene and luciferase gene from the Lampyroidea maculata and Hotaria unmunsana.
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Kaskova ZM, Tsarkova AS, Yampolsky IV. 1001 lights: luciferins, luciferases, their mechanisms of action and applications in chemical analysis, biology and medicine. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 45:6048-6077. [PMID: 27711774 DOI: 10.1039/c6cs00296j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Bioluminescence (BL) is a spectacular phenomenon involving light emission by live organisms. It is caused by the oxidation of a small organic molecule, luciferin, with molecular oxygen, which is catalysed by the enzyme luciferase. In nature, there are approximately 30 different BL systems, of which only 9 have been studied to various degrees in terms of their reaction mechanisms. A vast range of in vitro and in vivo analytical techniques have been developed based on BL, including tests for different analytes, immunoassays, gene expression assays, drug screening, bioimaging of live organisms, cancer studies, the investigation of infectious diseases and environmental monitoring. This review aims to cover the major existing applications for bioluminescence in the context of the diversity of luciferases and their substrates, luciferins. Particularly, the properties and applications of d-luciferin, coelenterazine, bacterial, Cypridina and dinoflagellate luciferins and their analogues along with their corresponding luciferases are described. Finally, four other rarely studied bioluminescent systems (those of limpet Latia, earthworms Diplocardia and Fridericia and higher fungi), which are promising for future use, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zinaida M Kaskova
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia. and Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianova 1, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Aleksandra S Tsarkova
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia. and Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianova 1, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Ilia V Yampolsky
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia. and Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianova 1, Moscow 117997, Russia
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