1
|
Schramm S, Weiß D. Bioluminescence - The Vibrant Glow of Nature and its Chemical Mechanisms. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400106. [PMID: 38469601 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400106] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Bioluminescence, the mesmerizing natural phenomenon where living organisms produce light through chemical reactions, has long captivated scientists and laypersons alike, offering a rich tapestry of insights into biological function, ecology, evolution as well as the underlying chemistry. This comprehensive introductory review systematically explores the phenomenon of bioluminescence, addressing its historical context, geographic dispersion, and ecological significance with a focus on their chemical mechanisms. Our examination begins with terrestrial bioluminescence, discussing organisms from different habitats. We analyze thefireflies of Central Europe's meadows and the fungi in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. Additionally, we inspect bioluminescent species in New Zealand, specifically river-dwelling snails and mosquito larvae found in Waitomo Caves. Our exploration concludes in the Siberian Steppes, highlighting the area's luminescent insects and annelids. Transitioning to the marine realm, the second part of this review examines marine bioluminescent organisms. We explore this phenomenon in deep-sea jellyfish and their role in the ecosystem. We then move to Toyama Bay, Japan, where seasonal bioluminescence of dinoflagellates and ostracods present a unique case study. We also delve into the bacterial world, discussing how bioluminescent bacteria contribute to symbiotic relationships. For each organism, we contextualize its bioluminescence, providing details about its discovery, ecological function, and geographical distribution. A special focus lies on the examination of the underlying chemical mechanisms that enables these biological light displays. Concluding this review, we present a series of practical bioluminescence and chemiluminescence experiments, providing a resource for educational demonstrations and student research projects. Our goal with this review is to provide a summary of bioluminescence across the diverse ecological contexts, contributing to the broader understanding of this unique biological phenomenon and its chemical mechanisms serving researchers new to the field, educators and students alike.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schramm
- University of Applied Sciences Dresden (HTW Dresden), Friedrich-List-Platz 1, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dieter Weiß
- Institut für Organische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pelentir GF, Tomazini A, Bevilaqua VR, Viviani VR. Role of Histidine 310 in Amydetes vivianii firefly luciferase pH and metal sensitivities and improvement of its color tuning properties. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2024; 23:997-1010. [PMID: 38693447 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-024-00570-1] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Firefly luciferases emit yellow-green light and are pH-sensitive, changing the bioluminescence color to red in the presence of heavy metals, acidic pH and high temperatures. These pH and metal-sensitivities have been recently harnessed for intracellular pH indication and toxic metal biosensing. However, whereas the structure of the pH sensor and the metal binding site, which consists mainly of two salt bridges that close the active site (E311/R337 and H310/E354), has been identified, the specific role of residue H310 in pH and metal sensing is still under debate. The Amydetes vivianii firefly luciferase has one of the lowest pH sensitivities among the group of pH-sensitive firefly luciferases, displaying high bioluminescent activity and special spectral selectivity for cadmium and mercury, which makes it a promising analytical reagent. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have investigated in detail the role of residue H310 on pH and metal sensitivity in this luciferase. Negatively charged residues at position 310 increase the pH sensitivity and metal sensitivity; H310G considerably increases the size of the cavity, severely impacting the activity, H310R closes the cavity, and H310F considerably decreases both pH and metal sensitivities. However, no substitution completely abolished pH and metal sensitivities. The results indicate that the presence of negatively charged and basic side chains at position 310 is important for pH sensitivity and metals coordination, but not essential, indicating that the remaining side chains of E311 and E354 may still coordinate some metals in this site. Furthermore, a metal binding site search predicted that H310 mutations decrease the affinity mainly for Zn, Ni and Hg but less for Cd, and revealed the possible existence of additional binding sites for Zn, Ni and Hg.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel F Pelentir
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Atílio Tomazini
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Vanessa R Bevilaqua
- Biomaterials Laboratory, Pontifical Catholic University-PUC, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Vadim R Viviani
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, Center for Sustainable Sciences and Technologies (CCTS), UFSCar, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Colee C, Oberlag NM, Simon M, Chapman OS, Flanagan LC, Reid-McLaughlin ES, Gewing-Mullins JA, Maiche S, Patel DF, Cavalcanti ARO, Leconte AM. Discovery of Red-Shifting Mutations in Firefly Luciferase Using High-Throughput Biochemistry. Biochemistry 2024; 63:733-742. [PMID: 38437583 PMCID: PMC10956436 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00708] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Photinus pyralis luciferase (FLuc) has proven a valuable tool for bioluminescence imaging, but much of the light emitted from the native enzyme is absorbed by endogenous biomolecules. Thus, luciferases displaying red-shifted emission enable higher resolution during deep-tissue imaging. A robust model of how protein structure determines emission color would greatly aid the engineering of red-shifted mutants, but no consensus has been reached to date. In this work, we applied deep mutational scanning to systematically assess 20 functionally important amino acid positions on FLuc for red-shifting mutations, predicting that an unbiased approach would enable novel contributions to this debate. We report dozens of red-shifting mutations as a result, a large majority of which have not been previously identified. Further characterization revealed that mutations N229T and T352M, in particular, bring about unimodal emission with the majority of photons being >600 nm. The red-shifting mutations identified by this high-throughput approach provide strong biochemical evidence for the multiple-emitter mechanism of color determination and point to the importance of a water network in the enzyme binding pocket for altering the emitter ratio. This work provides a broadly applicable mutational data set tying FLuc structure to emission color that contributes to our mechanistic understanding of emission color determination and should facilitate further engineering of improved probes for deep-tissue imaging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clair
M. Colee
- W.M.
Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps
Colleges, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Nicole M. Oberlag
- W.M.
Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps
Colleges, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Marcell Simon
- W.M.
Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps
Colleges, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Owen S. Chapman
- Department
of Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Lyndsey C. Flanagan
- W.M.
Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps
Colleges, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Edison S. Reid-McLaughlin
- W.M.
Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps
Colleges, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Jordan A. Gewing-Mullins
- W.M.
Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps
Colleges, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Synaida Maiche
- W.M.
Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps
Colleges, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Devi F. Patel
- W.M.
Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps
Colleges, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | | | - Aaron M. Leconte
- W.M.
Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps
Colleges, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Viviani VR, Benites GR, Souza DR, Pelentir GF, Reis RM, Bechara EJH, Tomazini A. The orange light emitting luciferase from the rare Euryopa clarindae adult railroadworm (Coleoptera:Phengodidae): structural/functional and evolutionary relationship with green and red emitting luciferases. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2024; 23:257-269. [PMID: 38141147 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-023-00515-0] [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: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Railroadworms luciferases emit the widest range of bioluminescence colors among beetles, ranging from green to red, being model enzymes to investigate the structure and bioluminescence colors relationships. Only three active railroadworms luciferases from the larval stage have been cloned and investigated: the Phrixothrix hirtus head lanterns red-emitting luciferase (PhRE); the Phrixothrix vivianii lateral lanterns green emitting luciferases (PvGR) and the Phengodes sp. dorsal lanterns yellow-green emitting luciferase (Ph). No active luciferase emitting in the yellow-orange region, however, has been cloned yet. Here we report the cloning and characterization of the orange emitting luciferase from the adult males of a rare Brazilian Cerrado railroadworm, Euryopa clarindae, and the transcriptional identification of two isozymes from the Amazon forest Mastinomorphus sp. railroadworm. The luciferase of E. clarindae has 548 residues, emits orange bioluminescence (600 nm), and displays intermediate kinetic values [KM(luciferin) = 50 µM, KM(ATP) ~ 170 µM] between those reported for green-emitting lateral lanterns and red emitting head lanterns luciferases. It displays 74-78% identity with the lateral lanterns luciferases of other railroadworms and 70% with the head lantern PhRE luciferase, and 96% with the larval Mastinomorphus sp. Mast-1, suggesting that this larva could be from the Euryopa genus. The phylogenetic analysis and kinetic/functional properties, place this orange-emitting enzyme as an intermediate form between the green-emitting lateral lanterns and red-emitting head lanterns luciferases. Major structural differences that could be associated with bioluminescence color determination are a relatively larger cavity size, and substitutions in the loops 223-235 and 311-316, especially N/C/T311, and their interactions which may help to close the bottom of LBS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V R Viviani
- Departamento de Física, Química e Matemática, CCTS, Federal University of Sao Carlos: Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
- Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil.
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, Brazil.
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil.
| | - G R Benites
- Departamento de Física, Química e Matemática, CCTS, Federal University of Sao Carlos: Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
- Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - D R Souza
- Departamento de Física, Química e Matemática, CCTS, Federal University of Sao Carlos: Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, Brazil
| | - G F Pelentir
- Departamento de Física, Química e Matemática, CCTS, Federal University of Sao Carlos: Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Raone M Reis
- Departamento de Física, Química e Matemática, CCTS, Federal University of Sao Carlos: Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, Brazil
| | | | - Atilio Tomazini
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
He J, Li J, Zhang R, Dong Z, Liu G, Chang Z, Bi W, Ruan Y, Yang Y, Liu H, Qiu L, Zhao R, Wan W, Li Z, Chen L, Li Y, Li X. Multiple Origins of Bioluminescence in Beetles and Evolution of Luciferase Function. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msad287. [PMID: 38174583 PMCID: PMC10798137 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescence in beetles has long fascinated biologists, with diverse applications in biotechnology. To date, however, our understanding of its evolutionary origin and functional variation mechanisms remains poor. To address these questions, we obtained high-quality reference genomes of luminous and nonluminous beetles in 6 Elateroidea families. We then reconstructed a robust phylogenetic relationship for all luminous families and related nonluminous families. Comparative genomic analyses and biochemical functional experiments suggested that gene evolution within Elateroidea played a crucial role in the origin of bioluminescence, with multiple parallel origins observed in the luminous beetle families. While most luciferase-like proteins exhibited a conserved nonluminous amino acid pattern (TLA346 to 348) in the luciferin-binding sites, luciferases in the different luminous beetle families showed divergent luminous patterns at these sites (TSA/CCA/CSA/LVA). Comparisons of the structural and enzymatic properties of ancestral, extant, and site-directed mutant luciferases further reinforced the important role of these sites in the trade-off between acyl-CoA synthetase and luciferase activities. Furthermore, the evolution of bioluminescent color demonstrated a tendency toward hypsochromic shifts and variations among the luminous families. Taken together, our results revealed multiple parallel origins of bioluminescence and functional divergence within the beetle bioluminescent system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinwu He
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China
| | - Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Ru Zhang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China
| | - Zhiwei Dong
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Guichun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Zhou Chang
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Wenxuan Bi
- Room 401, No. 2, Lane 155, Lianhua South Road, Shanghai 201100, China
| | - Yongying Ruan
- Plant Protection Research Center, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuxia Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, School of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Haoyu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, School of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Lu Qiu
- Engineering Research Center for Forest and Grassland Disaster Prevention and Reduction, Mianyang Normal University, 621000 Mianyang, China
| | - Ruoping Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Wenting Wan
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Zihe Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China
| | - Lei Chen
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China
| | - Yuanning Li
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Xueyan Li
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Effect of pH on the secondary structure and thermostability of beetle luciferases: structural origin of pH-insensitivity. PHOTOCHEMICAL & PHOTOBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN PHOTOCHEMISTRY ASSOCIATION AND THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR PHOTOBIOLOGY 2023; 22:893-904. [PMID: 36681778 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-022-00360-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Beetle luciferases were classified into three functional groups: (1) pH-sensitive yellow-green-emitting (fireflies) which change the bioluminescence color to red at acidic pH, high temperatures and presence of heavy metals; (2) the pH-insensitive green-yellow-emitting (click beetles, railroad worms and firefly isozymes) which are not affected by these factors, and (3) pH-insensitive red-emitting. Although the pH-sensing site in firefly luciferases was recently identified, it is unclear why some luciferases are pH-insensitive despite the presence of some conserved pH-sensing residues. Through circular dichroism, we compared the secondary structural changes and unfolding temperature of luciferases of representatives of these three groups: (1) pH-sensitive green-yellow-emitting Macrolampis sp2 (Mac) and Amydetes vivianii (Amy) firefly luciferases; (2) the pH-insensitive green-emitting Pyrearinus termitilluminans larval click beetle (Pte) and Aspisoma lineatum (Al2) larval firefly luciferases, and (3) the pH-insensitive red-emitting Phrixotrix hirtus railroadworm (PxRE) luciferase. The most blue-shifted luciferases, independently of pH sensitivity, are thermally more stable at different pHs than the red-shifted ones. The pH-sensitive luciferases undergo increases of α-helices and thermal stability above pH 6. The pH-insensitive Pte luciferase secondary structure remains stable between pH 6 and 8, whereas the Al2 luciferase displays an increase of the β-sheet at pH 8. The PxRE luciferase also displays an increase of α-helices at pH 8. The results indicate that green-yellow emission in beetle luciferases can be attained by: (1) a structurally rigid scaffold which stabilizes a single closed active site conformation in the pH-insensitive luciferases, and (2) active site compaction above pH 7.0 in the more flexible pH-sensitive luciferases.
Collapse
|
7
|
Macromolecular assembly of bioluminescent protein nanoparticles for enhanced imaging. Mater Today Bio 2022; 17:100455. [PMID: 36304975 PMCID: PMC9593766 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging has advantages over fluorescence imaging, such as minimal photobleaching and autofluorescence, and greater signal-to-noise ratios in many complex environments. Although significant achievements have been made in luciferase engineering for generating bright and stable reporters, the full capability of luciferases for nanoparticle tracking has not been comprehensively examined. In biocatalysis, enhanced enzyme performance after immobilization on nanoparticles has been reported. Thus, we hypothesized that by assembling luciferases onto a nanoparticle, the resulting complex could lead to substantially improved imaging properties. Using a modular bioconjugation strategy, we attached NanoLuc (NLuc) or Akaluc bioluminescent proteins to a protein nanoparticle platform (E2), yielding nanoparticles NLuc-E2 and Akaluc-E2, both with diameters of ∼45 nm. Although no significant differences were observed between different conditions involving Akaluc and Akaluc-E2, free NLuc at pH 5.0 showed significantly lower emission values than free NLuc at pH 7.4. Interestingly, NLuc immobilization on E2 nanoparticles (NLuc-E2) emitted increased luminescence at pH 7.4, and at pH 5.0 showed over two orders of magnitude (>200-fold) higher luminescence (than free NLuc), expanding the potential for imaging detection using the nanoparticle even upon endocytic uptake. After uptake by macrophages, the resulting luminescence with NLuc-E2 nanoparticles was up to 7-fold higher than with free NLuc at 48 h. Cells incubated with NLuc-E2 could also be imaged using live bioluminescence microscopy. Finally, biodistribution of nanoparticles into lymph nodes was detected through imaging using NLuc-E2, but not with conventionally-labeled fluorescent E2. Our data demonstrate that NLuc-bound nanoparticles have advantageous properties that can be utilized in applications ranging from single-cell imaging to in vivo biodistribution.
Collapse
|
8
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Liu YJ. Understanding the complete bioluminescence cycle from a multiscale computational perspective: A review. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY C: PHOTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2022.100537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
|
10
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Cloning and molecular properties of a novel luciferase from the Brazilian Bicellonycha lividipennis (Lampyridae: Photurinae) firefly: comparison with other firefly luciferases. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2022; 21:1559-1571. [PMID: 35590087 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-022-00240-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Several firefly luciferases eliciting light emission in the yellow-green range of the spectrum and with distinct kinetic properties have been already cloned, sequenced, and characterized. Some of them are currently being applied as analytical reagents and reporter genes for bioimaging and biosensors, and more recently as potential color tuning indicators of intracellular pH and toxic metals. They were cloned from the subfamilies Lampyrinae (Photinini: Photinus pyralis, Macrolampis sp2; Cratomorphini: Cratomorphus distinctus), Photurinae (Photuris pennsylvanica), Luciolinae (Luciola cruciata, L. lateralis, L. mingrelica, L. italica, Hotaria parvula), and Amydetinae (Amydetes vivianii) occurring in different parts of the world. The largest number has been cloned from fireflies occurring in Brazilian biomes. Taking advantage of the large biodiversity of fireflies occurring in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, here we report the cloning and characterization of a novel luciferase cDNA from the Photurinae subfamily, Bicellonycha lividipennis, which is a very common firefly in marshlands in Brazil. As expected, multialignements and phylogenetic analysis show that this luciferase clusters with Photuris pennsylvanica adult isozyme, and with other adult lantern firefly luciferases, in reasonable agreement with traditional phylogenetic analysis. The luciferase elicits light emission in the yellow-green region, has kinetics properties similar to other adult lantern firefly luciferases, including pH- and metal sensitivities, but displays a lower sensitivity to nickel, which is suggested to be caused by the natural substitution of H310Y.
Collapse
|
12
|
Schramm S, Weiß D. Biolumineszenz – Teil 1: Terrestrische Biolumineszenz. CHEM UNSERER ZEIT 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ciuz.202000081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schramm
- Institut für Organische und Makromolekulare Chemie Friedrich‐Schiller Universität Jena Humboldtstraße 10 07743 Jena Deutschland
- Merck KGaA Frankfurter Straße 250 64293 Darmstadt Deutschland
| | - Dieter Weiß
- Institut für Organische und Makromolekulare Chemie Friedrich‐Schiller Universität Jena Humboldtstraße 10 07743 Jena Deutschland
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mroginski MA, Adam S, Amoyal GS, Barnoy A, Bondar AN, Borin VA, Church JR, Domratcheva T, Ensing B, Fanelli F, Ferré N, Filiba O, Pedraza-González L, González R, González-Espinoza CE, Kar RK, Kemmler L, Kim SS, Kongsted J, Krylov AI, Lahav Y, Lazaratos M, NasserEddin Q, Navizet I, Nemukhin A, Olivucci M, Olsen JMH, Pérez de Alba Ortíz A, Pieri E, Rao AG, Rhee YM, Ricardi N, Sen S, Solov'yov IA, De Vico L, Wesolowski TA, Wiebeler C, Yang X, Schapiro I. Frontiers in Multiscale Modeling of Photoreceptor Proteins. Photochem Photobiol 2021; 97:243-269. [PMID: 33369749 DOI: 10.1111/php.13372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This perspective article highlights the challenges in the theoretical description of photoreceptor proteins using multiscale modeling, as discussed at the CECAM workshop in Tel Aviv, Israel. The participants have identified grand challenges and discussed the development of new tools to address them. Recent progress in understanding representative proteins such as green fluorescent protein, photoactive yellow protein, phytochrome, and rhodopsin is presented, along with methodological developments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Suliman Adam
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Gil S Amoyal
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Avishai Barnoy
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ana-Nicoleta Bondar
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Physics, Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Group, Berlin, Germany
| | - Veniamin A Borin
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jonathan R Church
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tatiana Domratcheva
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Department Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bernd Ensing
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Science and Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Francesca Fanelli
- Department of Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Ofer Filiba
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Laura Pedraza-González
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Ronald González
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Rajiv K Kar
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Lukas Kemmler
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Physics, Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Group, Berlin, Germany
| | - Seung Soo Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Jacob Kongsted
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anna I Krylov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yigal Lahav
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,MIGAL - Galilee Research Institute, S. Industrial Zone, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Michalis Lazaratos
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Physics, Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Group, Berlin, Germany
| | - Qays NasserEddin
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Isabelle Navizet
- MSME, Univ Gustave Eiffel, CNRS UMR 8208, Univ Paris Est Creteil, Marne-la-Vallée, France
| | - Alexander Nemukhin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Massimo Olivucci
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy.,Chemistry Department, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
| | - Jógvan Magnus Haugaard Olsen
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Chemistry, Hylleraas Centre for Quantum Molecular Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Alberto Pérez de Alba Ortíz
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Science and Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elisa Pieri
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, ICR, Marseille, France
| | - Aditya G Rao
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Young Min Rhee
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Niccolò Ricardi
- Département de Chimie Physique, Université de Genève, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Saumik Sen
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Luca De Vico
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Christian Wiebeler
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Xuchun Yang
- Chemistry Department, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
| | - Igor Schapiro
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Carrasco-López C, Lui NM, Schramm S, Naumov P. The elusive relationship between structure and colour emission in beetle luciferases. Nat Rev Chem 2020; 5:4-20. [PMID: 37118106 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-020-00238-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In beetles, luciferase enzymes catalyse the conversion of chemical energy into light through bioluminescence. The principles of this process have become a fundamental biotechnological tool that revolutionized biological research. Different beetle species can emit different colours of light, despite using the same substrate and highly homologous luciferases. The chemical reasons for these different colours are hotly debated yet remain unresolved. This Review summarizes the structural, biochemical and spectrochemical data on beetle bioluminescence reported over the past three decades. We identify the factors that govern what colour is emitted by wild-type and mutant luciferases. This topic is controversial, but, in general, we note that green emission requires cationic residues in a specific position near the benzothiazole fragment of the emitting molecule, oxyluciferin. The commonly emitted green-yellow light can be readily changed to red by introducing a variety of individual and multiple mutations. However, complete switching of the emitted light from red to green has not been accomplished and the synergistic effects of combined mutations remain unexplored. The minor colour shifts produced by most known mutations could be important in establishing a 'mutational catalogue' to fine-tune emission of beetle luciferases, thereby expanding the scope of their applications.
Collapse
|
15
|
Carvalho MC, Tomazini A, Amaral DT, Murakami MT, Viviani VR. Luciferase isozymes from the Brazilian Aspisoma lineatum (Lampyridae) firefly: origin of efficient pH-sensitive lantern luciferases from fat body pH-insensitive ancestors. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2020; 19:1750-1764. [PMID: 33241249 DOI: 10.1039/d0pp00272k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Firefly luciferases usually emit green-yellow bioluminescence at physiological pH values. However, under acidic conditions, in the presence of heavy metals and, at high temperatures they emit red bioluminescence. To understand the structural origin of bioluminescence colors and pH-sensitivity, about 20 firefly luciferases have been cloned, sequenced and investigated. The proton and metal-binding site responsible for pH- and metal sensitivity in firefly luciferases was shown to involve the residues H310, E311 and E354 in firefly luciferases. However, it is still unclear how and why pH-sensitivity arose and evolved in firefly luciferases. Here, we cloned and characterized two novel luciferase cDNAs from the fat body and lanterns of the Brazilian firefly Aspisoma lineatum. The larval fat body isozyme (AL2) has 545 residues, and displays very slow luminescence kinetics and a pH-insensitive spectrum. The adult lantern isozyme (AL1) has 548 residues, displays flash-like kinetics and pH and metal sensitive bioluminescence spectra, and is at least 10 times catalytically more efficient than AL2. Thermostability and CD studies showed that AL2 is much more stable and rigid than the AL1 isozyme. Multialignment and modelling studies show that the E310Q substitution (E310 in AL2 and Q310 in AL1) may have been critical for the origin of pH-sensitivity in firefly luciferases. The results indicate that the lantern efficient flash-emitting pH-sensitive luciferases arose from less efficient glow-type pH-insensitive luciferases found in the fat body of ancestral larval fireflies by enzyme structure flexibilization and substitution at position 310.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M C Carvalho
- Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Viviani VR, Pelentir GF, Oliveira G, Tomazini A, Bevilaqua VR. Role of E270 in pH- and metal-sensitivities of firefly luciferases. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2020; 19:1548-1558. [PMID: 33146219 DOI: 10.1039/d0pp00190b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Firefly luciferases display a typical change in bioluminescence color to red at acidic pH, high temperatures and in the presence of heavy metals. Recently, the proton and metal sensing site responsible for the pH-sensitivity of firefly luciferases, which involves the salt bridges between E311-R337 and H310-E354, was identified. However, it is unclear what other residues contribute to the distinct degrees of pH-sensitivity observed in other firefly luciferases. A multialignment of primary structures of a large set of pH-sensitive and pH-insensitive beetle luciferases showed that the conserved E270 among adult firefly luciferases is substituted by Gly (railroad worms)/Gln (click-beetles) in pH-insensitive ones. Site-directed mutagenesis studies using Macrolampis sp2 and Amydetes vivianii firefly luciferases indeed showed that E270 is important for the pH-dependent activity and spectral profiles: the substitution E270A/G drastically decreases the spectral pH-sensitivity, and extends the activity profile above pH 9.0. These mutations also decrease the sensitivity to metals such as zinc, mercury and cadmium. Modelling studies showed that the residue E270 is located in a three-glutamate motif (269EEE271) at the N-terminal of α-helix-10. The results suggest that at acidic pH, the protonation of E270 carboxylate may extend a turn of the helix at the N-terminal, misaligning the pH-sensor and luciferin phenolate binding site residues: S286, I288 and E311. In contrast, the substitution of E270A/G may unwind a turn of the α-helix-10, indirectly increasing the interaction of the pH-sensor and other residues at the bottom of the luciferin binding site, stabilizing the green light emitting conformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- 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. and Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - G F Pelentir
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rodovia João Leme dos Santos, Km 110, Itinga, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
| | - G Oliveira
- Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - A Tomazini
- Brazilian Biorenewables Energy National Laboratory (LNBR), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - V R Bevilaqua
- Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
de Almeida Barbosa NM, Gosset P, Réal E, Ledentu V, Didier P, Ferré N. pH-Dependent absorption spectrum of oxyluciferin analogues in the active site of firefly luciferase. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:21731-21740. [PMID: 32985625 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp02514c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In the quest for the identification of the light emitter(s) responsible for the firefly bioluminescence, the study of oxyluciferin analogues with controlled chemical and electronic structures is of particular importance. In this article, we report the results of our experimental and computational investigation of the pH-dependent absorption spectra characterizing three analogues bound into the luciferase cavity, together with adenosine-monophosphate (AMP). While the analogue microscopic pKa values do not differ much from their reference values, it turns out that the AMP protonation state is analogue-dependent and never doubly-deprotonated. A careful analysis of the interactions evidences the main role of E344 glutamic acid, as well as the flexibility of the cavity which can accommodate any oxyluciferin analogue. The consideration of the absorption spectra suggests that the oxyluciferin enolate form has to be excluded from the list of the bioluminescence reaction products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Pauline Gosset
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR 7021 CNRS, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Strasbourg, France
| | - Eléonore Réal
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR 7021 CNRS, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Pascal Didier
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR 7021 CNRS, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Strasbourg, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Yu M, Liu YJ. Same Luciferin in Different Luciferases Emitting Different-Color Light. A Theoretical Study on Beetle Bioluminescence. J Chem Theory Comput 2020; 16:3904-3909. [PMID: 32396347 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.0c00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Bioluminescent beetles, firefly, click beetle, and railroad worm, naturally emit different-color light via the identical luciferin and bioluminescence (BL) mechanisms. Railroad worm especially emits two colors of light in its dorsal-lateral and cephalic lanterns. Four computational models of bioluminophore (oLu) in luciferases of red-emitting, yellow-green-emitting, red-emitting with additional loop, and red-emitting without C-terminal were built in this paper. To unveil the details of this luciferase effect at the molecular and electronic-state levels, second-order multiconfigurational perturbation calculations were performed following molecular dynamic simulations and time-dependent density functional calculations for the above four oLu-luciferase systems. Via a systematic analysis on properties of oLu at the first singlet state (S1-oLu) in different luciferases, one clearly see the details of the microenvironment and secondary structure of luciferase affecting the excited-state property of S1-oLu, which ultimately result in the variant color of light emission. Typically, the increase in charge transfer of S1-oLu leads to the longer wavelength BL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Ya-Jun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Branchini BR, Fontaine DM, Southworth TL, Huta BP, Racela A, Patel KD, Gulick AM. Mutagenesis and Structural Studies Reveal the Basis for the Activity and Stability Properties That Distinguish the Photinus Luciferases scintillans and pyralis. Biochemistry 2019; 58:4293-4303. [PMID: 31560532 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The dazzling yellow-green light emission of the common North American firefly Photinus pyralis and other bioluminescent organisms has provided a wide variety of prominent research applications like reporter gene assays and in vivo imaging methods. While the P. pyralis enzyme has been extensively studied, only recently has a second Photinus luciferase been cloned from the species scintillans. Even though the enzymes share very high sequence identity (89.8%), the color of the light they emit, their specific activity and their stability to heat, pH, and chemical denaturation are quite different with the scintillans luciferase being generally more resistant. Through the construction and evaluation of the properties of chimeric domain swapped, single point, and various combined variants, we have determined that only six amino acid changes are necessary to confer all of the properties of the scintillans enzyme to wild-type P. pyralis luciferase. Altered stability properties were attributed to four of the amino acid changes (T214N/S276T/H332N/E354N), and single mutations each predominantly changed emission color (Y255F) and specific activity (A222C). Results of a crystallographic study of the P. pyralis enzyme containing the six changes (Pps6) provide some insight into the structural basis for some of the documented property differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruce R Branchini
- Department of Chemistry , Connecticut College , New London , Connecticut 06320 , United States
| | - Danielle M Fontaine
- Department of Chemistry , Connecticut College , New London , Connecticut 06320 , United States
| | - Tara L Southworth
- Department of Chemistry , Connecticut College , New London , Connecticut 06320 , United States
| | - Brian P Huta
- Department of Chemistry , Connecticut College , New London , Connecticut 06320 , United States
| | - Allison Racela
- Department of Chemistry , Connecticut College , New London , Connecticut 06320 , United States
| | - Ketan D Patel
- Department of Structural Biology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences , University at Buffalo , Buffalo , New York 14203 , United States
| | - Andrew M Gulick
- Department of Structural Biology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences , University at Buffalo , Buffalo , New York 14203 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Pelentir GF, Bevilaqua VR, Viviani VR. A highly efficient, thermostable and cadmium selective firefly luciferase suitable for ratiometric metal and pH biosensing and for sensitive ATP assays. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2019; 18:2061-2070. [PMID: 31339127 DOI: 10.1039/c9pp00174c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Firefly luciferases have been widely used for bioanalytical purposes during the last 5 decades. They usually emit yellow-green bioluminescence and are pH-sensitive, displaying a color change to red at acidic pH and higher temperature and in the presence of heavy metals. Besides the usual applications as bioanalytical reagents and as reporter genes, firefly luciferases' pH- and metal-sensitivities have been recently harnessed for intracellular metal and pH biosensing. Previously we cloned the luciferase of the Brazilian Amydetes vivianii firefly which displays the most blue-shifted color among known firefly luciferases. Here we purified it, characterized and investigated the kinetic properties and the pH, metal and thermal sensitivities of this firefly luciferase. This luciferase displays the lowest reported KM for ATP, the highest catalytic efficiencies, and the highest thermostability among the studied recombinant beetle luciferases, making this enzyme and its cDNA an ideal reagent for sensitive ATP assays and reporter gene. The blue-shifted spectrum, higher thermostability, lower pH- and thermal-sensitivities and protein fluorescence studies indicate a more rigid active site during light emission. This enzyme displays an unmatched selective spectral sensitivity for cadmium and mercury, making it a promising ratiometric indicator of such toxic metals. Finally, the weaker thermal-sensitivity compared to other firefly luciferases makes this enzyme a better ratiometric pH indicator at temperatures above 30 °C, suitable for mammalian cell assays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G F Pelentir
- Graduate School of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|