Syntheses and evaluation of the bioluminescent activity of (S)-Cypridina luciferin and its analogs

Cypridina luciferin is the substrate in the bioluminescence of a luminous ostracod Cypridina (Vargula) hilgendorfii. Cypridina luciferin contains a chiral center in the sec-butyl moiety. Here, we report a convenient method for the preparation of (S)-Cypridina luciferin by the condensation of (S)-1,1-diethoxy-3-methylpentan-2-one with ethioluciferin. The light yield of the synthesized (S)-luciferin in the presence of Cypridina luciferase was about 1.7 times as active as that of racemic form. Furthermore, several luciferin analogs prepared by the same condensation with different α-ketoacetal derivatives showed moderate light yield with Cypridina luciferase. These readily available Cypridina luciferin and analogs are applicable to the bioluminescent detection of Cypridina luciferase.     

Chemical synthesis and firefly luciferase produced dehydroluciferyl-coenzyme A

Dehydroluciferyl-coenzyme A (L-CoA) was chemically synthesized and characterized by MS, UV-vis spectrometry and RP-HPLC. The identity of the chemically synthesized compound with the one that was produced by firefly luciferase was confirmed. Moreover, the reversibility of the enzymatic conversion of dehydroluciferin ? dehydroluciferyl-adenylate ? L-CoA was also confirmed. The chemical synthesis of L-CoA, described here, may help the clarification of the activator effect of CoA on luciferase bioluminescent assays, in which the enzyme catalyzed formation of L-CoA and the consequent destruction of L-AMP is one of the possible explanations for that effect.     

Optimized chromatographic and bioluminescent methods for inorganic pyrophosphate based on its conversion to ATP by firefly luciferase

Two new methods for inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) quantification are described. They are based on the enzymatic conversion of PPi into ATP by firefly luciferase (Luc, E.C. 1.13.12.7) in the presence of dehydroluciferyl-adenylate (L-AMP) followed by the determination of ATP by one of two different procedures, either UV-monitored (260 nm) ion-pair-HPLC (IP-HPLC) (method A) or luciferase-dependent bioluminescence in the presence of its substrate, firefly luciferin (d-LH₂) (method B). These methods were subjected to optimization using experimental design methodologies to obtain optimum values for the selected factors: method A—incubation time (t_inc = 15 min), inactivation time of the enzyme (t_inac = 2 min), pH of the reaction mixture (pH 7.50) and the concentrations of L-AMP ([L-AMP] = 40 μM) and luciferase ([Luc] = 0.1 μM); method B—concentrations of L-AMP ([L-AMP] = 2 μM), luciferase ([Luc] = 50 nM) and luciferin ([LH₂] = 30 μM). Method A has a linear response over the range of 0.1-20 μM of PPi, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 μM and a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 1.8 μM. Precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (R.S.D.), is 7.4% at 1 μM PPi and 5.9% at 8 μM PPi. Method B has a linear response over the range of 0.75-6.0 μM of PPi, with LOD and LOQ of 0.624 and 2.23 μM, respectively, and a R.S.D. of 5.1% at 2.5 μM PPi and 4.9% at 5 μM PPi. Under optimized conditions sensitive and robust methods can be obtained for the analysis of PPi impurities in commercial nucleotides and tripolyphosphate (P₃).     

Synthesis of Latia luciferin benzoate analogues and their bioluminescent activity

The bioluminescent system of the univalve shell Latia neritoides exhibits a luciferin-luciferase reaction. We study the enol formate structure of Latia luciferin, which is expected to be important for luminescent activity. The Latia luciferin analogues with an enol substituted benzoate moiety were synthesized and their bioluminescent activity was measured. The Latia luciferin benzoate analogues delay emission for natural luciferin in bioluminescence, indicating that the Latia bioluminescent activity can be controlled by the design of the enol ester.     

Luciferins, bioluminescent substances

The bioluminescence of the American firefly Photinus is due to the reaction of 2-(6-hydroxybenzothiazol-2-yl)-Δ²-1,3-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (“firefly luciferin”) with the enzyme luciferase in the presence of ATP and magnesium ion. In the crustacean Cypridina, on the other hand, the bioluminescence is due to the reaction of a luciferase with 8-(3-guanidinopropyl)-6-indol-3-yl-2-(1-methylpropyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]-pyrazin-3-one (“Cypridina luciferin”). The luciferin in Latia is 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-(4-formyloxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl)-1-cyclohexene and that in Renilla is a tryptamine derivative that has not yet been accurately identified; the luciferins of other luminescent organisms are not yet known. A review is given of the investigations which have been carried out on the above luciferins and the course of the luciferin-luciferase reaction is examined. Numerous spectral data obtained during the examination of these compounds are included in the text.     

Effect of heavy atoms in bioluminescent reactions

Bioluminescent reactions of luminous organisms are excellent models for studying the effects of heavy atoms on enzymatic processes. The effects of potassium halides with halide anions of different atomic weight were compared in bioluminescent reactions of the firefly (Luciola mingrelica), a marine coelenterate (Obelia longissima), and a marine bacterium (Photobacterium leiognathi). Two mechanisms of the effects of the halides were examined—the physicochemical effect of the external heavy atom, based on spin–orbit interactions in electron-excited structures, and the biochemical effect, i.e. interactions with the enzymes resulting in changes of enzymatic activity. The physicochemical effect was evaluated by using photoexcitation of model fluorescent compounds (flavin mononucleotide, firefly luciferin, and coelenteramide) of similar structure to the bioluminescence emitters. The bioluminescent and photoluminescent inhibition coefficients were calculated and compared for the luminous organisms to evaluate the relative contributions of the two mechanisms. The biochemical mechanism was found to be dominant. Hence, the bioluminescent reactions can be used as assays to monitor enzyme inhibition, in metabolic processes, by Br or I-containing compounds.     

Identification of the biosynthetic units of Cypridina luciferin in Cypridina (Vargula) hilgendorfii by LC/ESI-TOF-MS

In a luminous ostracod Cypridina (Vargula) hilgendorfii, Cypridina luciferin with an imidazopyrazinone structure (3,7-dihydroimidazopyrazin-3-one) is utilized for the luminescence reaction. To identify the biosynthetic units of Cypridina luciferin, the stable isotope labeled compounds were examined by feeding experiments with living Cypridina specimens. The incorporation of the labeled compounds into Cypridina luciferin was identified by the method of LC/ESI-TOF-MS analyses and these results suggested that l-tryptophan, l-arginine and l-isoleucine are structural units of Cypridina luciferin.     

Capillary electrophoretic assay of human acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase 2

Human acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase 2 catalyzes the carboxylation of acetyl coenzyme A to form malonyl coenzyme A, along with the conversion of magnesium‐adenosine triphosphate complex to magnesium‐adenosine diphosphate complex. A simple off‐column capillary electrophoresis assay for human acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase 2 was developed based on the separation of magnesium‐adenosine triphosphate complex, magnesium‐adenosine diphosphate complex, acetyl coenzyme A and malonyl coenzyme A with detection by ultraviolet absorption at 256 nm. When Mg²⁺ was absent from the separation buffer, the zones due to magnesium‐adenosine triphosphate complex and magnesium‐adenosine diphosphate complex both split and migrated as two separate peaks. With Mg²⁺ added to the separation buffer, magnesium‐adenosine triphosphate complex and magnesium‐adenosine diphosphate complex produced single peaks, and the reproducibility of peak shape and area improved for human acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase 2 assay components. The final separation buffer used was 30.0 mM HEPES, 3.0 mM MgCl₂, 2.5 mM KHCO₃, and 2.5 mM potassium citrate at pH 7.50. The same buffer was used for the enzyme‐catalyzed reaction (off‐column). Inhibition of human acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase 2 by CP‐640186, a known inhibitor, was detected using the capillary electrophoresis assay.     

New red-shifted coelenterazine analogues with an extended electronic conjugation

A new promising approach to the development of red-shifted coelenterazine analogues was described. In order to alter the photochemical properties of native coelenterazine, we have designed and synthesized analogues bearing a new electron-rich structure. The spectroscopic results obtained, in the presence of the target enzyme (Renilla Luciferase), show a bathochromic emission shift of the entire class of new derivatives. Among them, the 2-benzyl-8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-6-(4-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(7H)-one (8) shows an emission at 510 nm and uncommon slow kinetic decay.     

Antimetabolites of coenzyme Q. Their potential application as antimalarials

Malaria is transmitted to man by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito, man acting as the intermediate host, and the mosquito as the definitive host for the plasmodia. Plasmodia are found to have become resistant to certain chemotherapeutic agents. A new fundamental approach to malaria chemotherapy is based on the biochemical rationale of inhibition of the electron transfer mechanism in the metabolism of plasmodia by antimetabolites of coenzyme Q, which is essential for electron transfer. Coenzyme Q refers to 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinones with isoprenoid chains of varying length on C-6. In this progress report a series of synthetic antimetabolites are presented together with a discussion of their action in current pharmacological tests.     

CompX,a luciferin-related tyrosine derivative from the bioluminescent earthworm Fridericia heliota. Structure elucidation and total synthesis

A luciferin analog, CompX, was isolated from the extracts of the bioluminescent earthworm Fridericia heliota. Its structure was determined as (Z)-5-(2-carboxy-2-methoxyvinyl)-2-hydroxybenzoic acid by spectroscopic data analysis and was confirmed by total synthesis. The (Z)-configuration of the double bond was established by comparing the ROESY spectra of CompX with those of its synthetic (E)-isomer. CompX represents a tyrosine analog, not previously found in natural sources, and is probably derived from tyrosine by deamination, O-methylation of the resulting alpha-keto acid, and carboxylation at the aromatic core.     

Bioluminescence and exogenous compounds: physico-chemical basis for bioluminescent assay

Bioluminescent systems are convenient objects to study mechanisms of influence of exogenous molecules on living organisms. Classification of physical and physico-chemical mechanisms of the effects of luminous bacteria Photobacterium leiognathi on bioluminescent reactions is suggested. Five mechanisms are discussed: (1) change of electron-excited states' population and energy transfer, (2) change of efficiency of S-T conversion in the presence of external heavy atom, (3) change of rates of coupled reactions, (4) interactions with enzymes and variation of enzymatic activity, (5) nonspecific effects of electron acceptors. Effects of various groups of chemical compounds are discussed according to the classification suggested. The compounds are: a series of fluorescent dyes, organic oxidizers, organic and inorganic heavy-atom containing compounds, and metallic salts. Applications of fluorescence time-resolved and steady-state techniques, as well as bioluminescence kinetics study, are discussed. The patterns of exogenous compounds' influence form a physico-chemical basis for bioluminescent ecological assay.     

Planar artificial biomembranes optimized for biochemical assay

Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer and planar bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) experiments are used to study the relative significance of dipolar potential and packing/fluidity in the control of the permeability of phospholipid/steroid BLMs to potassium ion. Practical chemical construction of BLMs designed to achieve particular dipolar potential and packing/fluidity characteristics are described. The ability to modify selectively the salient physical properties of BLMs allows optimization of the ion permeability and receptor activity of the membrane. The use of BLMs to quantify drug response and receptor activity is illustrated by examples involving valinomycin, phloretin, concanavalin A and auxin receptor.     

A novel coenzyme NADH model 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide-mediated reaction: a single intermediate serves two mechanisms

Thermal reaction of ethyl (2Z)-4-bromo-2-cyano-3-(2-naphthyl)but-2-enoate (BCNB) with coenzyme NADH model 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH) gives the debrominated cyclized product (E)-1-cyano-2-methyl-2-(2-naphthyl)cyclopropane-1-carboxylate (1), debrominated olefinic products ethyl (2E)-2-cyano-3-(2-naphthyl)but-2-enoate (2) and ethyl (2Z)-2-cyano-3-(2-naphthyl)but-2-enoate (3). The formation of 1 proceeds via partial concerted hydride transfer and debromocyclopropanation, whereas the formation of 2 or 3 proceeds via an electron transfer-debromination-hydrogen abstraction mechanism. Nonetheless, they all derived from the same electron-transfer intermediate complex.     

Bioluminescence activity of Latia luciferin analogues: replacement of the 2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexene ring onto the methyl-substituted phenyl groups

A series of Latia luciferin analogues having methyl-substituted phenyl groups instead of the natural 2,6,6-trimethylhexene ring was synthesized and their bioluminescence activity were measured. The Latia luciferase was found to be able to moderately recognize the appropriately methyl-substituted phenyl analogues with the same light production kinetics as that of natural luciferin.     

Automatic polymerase chain reaction product detection system for food safety monitoring using zinc finger protein fused to luciferase

An automatic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product detection system for food safety monitoring using zinc finger (ZF) protein fused to luciferase was developed. ZF protein fused to luciferase specifically binds to target double stranded DNA sequence and has luciferase enzymatic activity. Therefore, PCR products that comprise ZF protein recognition sequence can be detected by measuring the luciferase activity of the fusion protein. We previously reported that PCR products from Legionella pneumophila and Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157 genomic DNA were detected by Zif268, a natural ZF protein, fused to luciferase. In this study, Zif268–luciferase was applied to detect the presence of Salmonella and coliforms. Moreover, an artificial zinc finger protein (B2) fused to luciferase was constructed for a Norovirus detection system. In the luciferase activity detection assay, several bound/free separation process is required. Therefore, an analyzer that automatically performed the bound/free separation process was developed to detect PCR products using the ZF–luciferase fusion protein. By means of the automatic analyzer with ZF–luciferase fusion protein, target pathogenic genomes were specifically detected in the presence of other pathogenic genomes. Moreover, we succeeded in the detection of 10 copies of E. coli BL21 without extraction of genomic DNA by the automatic analyzer and E. coli was detected with a logarithmic dependency in the range of 1.0 × 10 to 1.0 × 10⁶ copies.     

AsLn2, a luciferin-related modified tripeptide from the bioluminescent earthworm Fridericia heliota

AsLn2, an unusual modified peptide, was isolated from the bioluminescent earthworm Fridericia heliota (Enchytraeidae). Its structure, elucidated by NMR and mass spectrometry, includes residues of tyrosine, CompX (a novel tyrosine modification product, reported in the accompanying paper), and N(omega)-acylated lysine. Chromatography, UV, and ¹H NMR data imply a close structural similarity of AsLn2 with F. heliota luciferin. AsLn2 appears to be an intermediate or by-product in F. heliota luciferin biosynthesis.