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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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Trabuco Amaral D, Mitani Y, Aparecida Silva Bonatelli I, Cerri R, Ohmiya Y, Viviani V. Genome analysis of Phrixothrix hirtus (Phengodidae) railroad worm shows the expansion of odorant-binding gene families and positive selection on morphogenesis and sex determination genes. Gene X 2022; 850:146917. [PMID: 36174905 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146917] [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: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Among bioluminescent beetles of the Elateroidea superfamily, Phengodidae is the third largest family, with 244 bioluminescent species distributed only in the Americas, but is still the least studied from the phylogenetic and evolutionary points of view. The railroad worm Phrixothrix hirtus is an essential biological model and symbolic species due to its bicolor bioluminescence, being the only organism that produces true red light among bioluminescent terrestrial species. Here, we performed partial genome assembly of P. hirtus, combining short and long reads generated with Illumina sequencing, providing the first source of genomic information and a framework for comparative analyses of the bioluminescent system in Elateroidea. This is the largest genome described in the Elateroidea superfamily, with an estimated size of ∼3.4 Gb, displaying 32 % GC content, and 67 % transposable elements. Comparative genomic analyses showed a positive selection of genes and gene family expansion events of growths and morphogenesis gene products, which could be associated with the atypical anatomical development and morphogenesis found in paedomorphic females and underdeveloped males. We also observed gene family expansion among distinct odorant-binding receptors, which could be associated with the pheromone communication system typical of these beetles, and retrotransposable elements. Common genes putatively regulating bioluminescence production and control, including two luciferase genes corresponding to lateral lanterns green-emitting and head lanterns red-emitting luciferases with 7 exons and 6 introns, and genes potentially involved in luciferin biosynthesis were found, indicating that there are no clear differences about the presence or absence of gene families associated with bioluminescence in Elateroidea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Trabuco Amaral
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnociência, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas. Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Santo André, Brazil
| | - Yasuo Mitani
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Sapporo, Japan
| | | | - Ricardo Cerri
- Department of Computational Science, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Yoshihiro Ohmiya
- Biomedical Research Institute, AIST, Ikeda-Osaka, Japan; Osaka Institute of Technology, OIT, Osaka, Japan
| | - Vadim Viviani
- Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil; Graduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Sorocaba, Brazil.
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3
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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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Inouye S. Multiple Cypridina Luciferase Genes in the Genome of Individual Ostracods, Vargula hilgendorfii (Cypridina hilgendorfii). Photochem Photobiol 2021; 98:1293-1302. [PMID: 34181758 DOI: 10.1111/php.13479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The genomic structure of the Cypridina luciferase gene in Vargula hilgendorfii (formerly Cypridina hilgendorfii) was determined with three λ phage clones (λ34, λ45, and λ61). The luciferase genes in clones λ34 and λ61 consisted of 13 exons and 12 introns, and clone λ45 only contained exons 1-5. The splicing sites of the luciferase genes in λ34 and λ61 were conserved completely with the consensus sequence. The translated luciferases had 555 amino acid residues, which were over 98.6% identical to those of cDNA clones as previously reported. In contrast, each intron in clones λ34, λ45, and λ61 varied significantly in length. To explain the variation of intron length among the three V. hilgendorfii luciferase genes, genomic DNA was isolated from a single V. hilgendorfii specimen and the regions from exon 1-3 of the luciferase gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products with various lengths were detected and were confirmed as the luciferase gene fragments by Southern blot analysis. Furthermore, DNA sequence analysis indicated that at least seven luciferase gene groups might be present in the genome of a single specimen. Thus, multiple Cypridina luciferase genes exist in the genome of a single V. hilgendorfii specimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Inouye
- Yokohama Research Center, JNC Co, 5-1 Okawa, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-8605, Japan
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5
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Deyrup ST, Stagnitti NC, Perpetua MJ, Wong-Deyrup SW. Drug Discovery Insights from Medicinal Beetles in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2021; 29:105-126. [PMID: 33632986 PMCID: PMC7921859 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2020.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was the primary source of medical treatment for the people inhabiting East Asia for thousands of years. These ancient practices have incorporated a wide variety of materia medica including plants, animals and minerals. As modern sciences, including natural products chemistry, emerged, there became increasing efforts to explore the chemistry of this materia medica to find molecules responsible for their traditional use. Insects, including beetles have played an important role in TCM. In our survey of texts and review articles on TCM materia medica, we found 48 species of beetles from 34 genera in 14 different families that are used in TCM. This review covers the chemistry known from the beetles used in TCM, or in cases where a species used in these practices has not been chemically studied, we discuss the chemistry of closely related beetles. We also found several documented uses of beetles in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), and included them where appropriate. There are 129 chemical constituents of beetles discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T. Deyrup
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Siena College, Loudonville, NY 12309, USA
| | - Natalie C. Stagnitti
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Siena College, Loudonville, NY 12309, USA
| | | | - Siu Wah Wong-Deyrup
- The RNA Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
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6
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Oba Y, Konishi K, Yano D, Shibata H, Kato D, Shirai T. Resurrecting the ancient glow of the fireflies. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/49/eabc5705. [PMID: 33268373 PMCID: PMC7710365 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc5705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The color of firefly bioluminescence is determined by the structure of luciferase. Firefly luciferase genes have been isolated from more than 30 species, producing light ranging in color from green to orange-yellow. Here, we reconstructed seven ancestral firefly luciferase genes, characterized the enzymatic properties of the recombinant proteins, and determined the crystal structures of the gene from ancestral Lampyridae. Results showed that the synthetic luciferase for the last common firefly ancestor exhibited green light caused by a spatial constraint on the luciferin molecule in enzyme, while fatty acyl-CoA synthetic activity, an original function of firefly luciferase, was diminished in exchange. All known firefly species are bioluminescent in the larvae, with a common ancestor arising approximately 100 million years ago. Combined, our findings propose that, within the mid-Cretaceous forest, the common ancestor of fireflies evolved green light luciferase via trade-off of the original function, which was likely aposematic warning display against nocturnal predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Oba
- Department of Environmental Biology, Chubu University, Kasugai 487-8501, Japan.
| | - K Konishi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Chubu University, Kasugai 487-8501, Japan
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - D Yano
- Department of Environmental Biology, Chubu University, Kasugai 487-8501, Japan
| | - H Shibata
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - D Kato
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - T Shirai
- Department of Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Nagahama 526-0829, Japan.
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7
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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.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Carvalho
- Graduate Program of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil.
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8
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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.
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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
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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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Daniels BJ, Li FF, Furkert DP, Brimble MA. Naturally Occurring Lumazines. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2019; 82:2054-2065. [PMID: 31317731 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Natural products containing a lumazine motif were first isolated from natural sources in 1940. These natural products are relatively rare, with fewer than 100 lumazines known to occur in Nature. This review discusses the isolation of lumazines, their biological activity, and their biosynthesis, where known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Daniels
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , 23 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
| | - Freda F Li
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , 23 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
| | - Daniel P Furkert
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , 23 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery , The University of Auckland , 3 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
| | - Margaret A Brimble
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , 23 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery , The University of Auckland , 3 Symonds Street , Auckland 1010 , New Zealand
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11
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Fallon TR, Lower SE, Chang CH, Bessho-Uehara M, Martin GJ, Bewick AJ, Behringer M, Debat HJ, Wong I, Day JC, Suvorov A, Silva CJ, Stanger-Hall KF, Hall DW, Schmitz RJ, Nelson DR, Lewis SM, Shigenobu S, Bybee SM, Larracuente AM, Oba Y, Weng JK. Firefly genomes illuminate parallel origins of bioluminescence in beetles. eLife 2018; 7:e36495. [PMID: 30324905 PMCID: PMC6191289 DOI: 10.7554/elife.36495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Fireflies and their luminous courtships have inspired centuries of scientific study. Today firefly luciferase is widely used in biotechnology, but the evolutionary origin of bioluminescence within beetles remains unclear. To shed light on this long-standing question, we sequenced the genomes of two firefly species that diverged over 100 million-years-ago: the North American Photinus pyralis and Japanese Aquatica lateralis. To compare bioluminescent origins, we also sequenced the genome of a related click beetle, the Caribbean Ignelater luminosus, with bioluminescent biochemistry near-identical to fireflies, but anatomically unique light organs, suggesting the intriguing hypothesis of parallel gains of bioluminescence. Our analyses support independent gains of bioluminescence in fireflies and click beetles, and provide new insights into the genes, chemical defenses, and symbionts that evolved alongside their luminous lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Fallon
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeUnited States
- Department of BiologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeUnited States
| | - Sarah E Lower
- Department of Molecular Biology and GeneticsCornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
- Department of BiologyBucknell UniversityLewisburgUnited States
| | - Ching-Ho Chang
- Department of BiologyUniversity of RochesterRochesterUnited States
| | - Manabu Bessho-Uehara
- Department of Environmental BiologyChubu UniversityKasugaiJapan
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural SciencesNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteMoss LandingUnited States
| | - Gavin J Martin
- Department of BiologyBrigham Young UniversityProvoUnited States
| | - Adam J Bewick
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of GeorgiaAthensUnited States
| | - Megan Behringer
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of EvolutionArizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Humberto J Debat
- Center of Agronomic Research, National Institute of Agricultural TechnologyCórdobaArgentina
| | - Isaac Wong
- Department of BiologyUniversity of RochesterRochesterUnited States
| | - John C Day
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH)WallingfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Anton Suvorov
- Department of BiologyBrigham Young UniversityProvoUnited States
| | - Christian J Silva
- Department of BiologyUniversity of RochesterRochesterUnited States
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of California DavisDavisUnited States
| | | | - David W Hall
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of GeorgiaAthensUnited States
| | | | - David R Nelson
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and BiochemistryUniversity of Tennessee HSCMemphisUnited States
| | - Sara M Lewis
- Department of BiologyTufts UniversityMedfordUnited States
| | - Shuji Shigenobu
- NIBB Core Research FacilitiesNational Institute for Basic BiologyOkazakiJapan
| | - Seth M Bybee
- Department of BiologyBrigham Young UniversityProvoUnited States
| | | | - Yuichi Oba
- Department of Environmental BiologyChubu UniversityKasugaiJapan
| | - Jing-Ke Weng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeUnited States
- Department of BiologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeUnited States
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12
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Lower SE, Stanger-Hall KF, Hall DW. Molecular variation across populations of a widespread North American firefly, Photinus pyralis, reveals that coding changes do not underlie flash color variation or associated visual sensitivity. BMC Evol Biol 2018; 18:129. [PMID: 30170542 PMCID: PMC6119266 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1251-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Genes underlying signal production and reception are expected to evolve to maximize signal detection in specific environments. Fireflies vary in their light signal color both within and between species, and thus provide an excellent system in which to study signal production and reception in the context of signaling environments. Differences in signal color have been hypothesized to be due to variation in the sequence of luciferase, the enzyme that catalyzes the light reaction. Similarly, differences in visual sensitivity, which are expected to match signal color, have been hypothesized to be due to variation in the sequence of opsins, the protein component of visual pigments. Here we investigated (1) whether sequence variation in luciferase correlates with variation in signal color and (2) whether sequence variation in opsins correlates with inferred matching visual sensitivity across populations of a widespread North American firefly species, Photinus pyralis. We further tested (3) whether selection has acted on these loci by examining their population-level differentiation relative to the distribution of differentiation derived from a genome-wide sample of loci generated by double-digest RADseq. Results We found virtually no coding variation in luciferase or opsins. However, there was extreme divergence in non-coding variation in luciferase across populations relative to a panel of random genomic loci. Conclusions The absence of protein variation at both loci challenges the paradigm that variation in signal color and visual sensitivity in fireflies is exclusively due to coding variation in luciferase and opsin genes. Instead, flash color variation within species must involve other mechanisms, such as abdominal pigmentation or regulation of light organ physiology. Evidence for selection at non-coding variation in luciferase suggests that selection is targeting luciferase regulation and may favor differ expression levels across populations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-018-1251-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Lower
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. .,Present address: Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, USA.
| | | | - David W Hall
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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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: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [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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Bessho-Uehara M, Oba Y. Identification and characterization of the Luc2-type luciferase in the Japanese firefly, Luciola parvula
, involved in a dim luminescence in immobile stages. LUMINESCENCE 2017; 32:924-931. [DOI: 10.1002/bio.3273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuichi Oba
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences; Nagoya University; Nagoya Japan
- Department of Environmental Biology; Chubu University; Kasugai Japan
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15
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Bessho-Uehara M, Konishi K, Oba Y. Biochemical characteristics and gene expression profiles of two paralogous luciferases from the Japanese firefly Pyrocoelia atripennis (Coleoptera, Lampyridae, Lampyrinae): insight into the evolution of firefly luciferase genes. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2017; 16:1301-1310. [DOI: 10.1039/c7pp00110j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The same green luminescence is generated by two luciferase isoforms: PatLuc1 is used in lanterns of various stages, and PatLuc2 is used in the body of immobile/less-mobile stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manabu Bessho-Uehara
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences
- Nagoya University
- Nagoya 464-8601
- Japan
| | - Kaori Konishi
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences
- Nagoya University
- Nagoya 464-8601
- Japan
| | - Yuichi Oba
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences
- Nagoya University
- Nagoya 464-8601
- Japan
- Department of Environmental Biology
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16
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Vongsangnak W, Chumnanpuen P, Sriboonlert A. Transcriptome analysis reveals candidate genes involved in luciferin metabolism in Luciola aquatilis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). PeerJ 2016; 4:e2534. [PMID: 27761329 PMCID: PMC5068357 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescence, which living organisms such as fireflies emit light, has been studied extensively for over half a century. This intriguing reaction, having its origins in nature where glowing insects can signal things such as attraction or defense, is now widely used in biotechnology with applications of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence. Luciferase, a key enzyme in this reaction, has been well characterized; however, the enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of its substrate, luciferin, remains unsolved at present. To elucidate the luciferin metabolism, we performed a de novo transcriptome analysis using larvae of the firefly species, Luciola aquatilis. Here, a comparative analysis is performed with the model coleopteran insect Tribolium casteneum to elucidate the metabolic pathways in L. aquatilis. Based on a template luciferin biosynthetic pathway, combined with a range of protein and pathway databases, and various prediction tools for functional annotation, the candidate genes, enzymes, and biochemical reactions involved in luciferin metabolism are proposed for L. aquatilis. The candidate gene expression is validated in the adult L. aquatilis using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). This study provides useful information on the bio-production of luciferin in the firefly and will benefit to future applications of the valuable firefly bioluminescence system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanwipa Vongsangnak
- Department of Zoology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Computational Biomodelling Laboratory for Agricultural Science and Technology (CBLAST), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pramote Chumnanpuen
- Department of Zoology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Computational Biomodelling Laboratory for Agricultural Science and Technology (CBLAST), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ajaraporn Sriboonlert
- Department of Genetics, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Centre for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
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17
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Gharanlar J, Hosseinkhani S, Sajedi RH, Yaghmaei P. The Effect of Surface Charge Saturation on Heat-induced Aggregation of Firefly Luciferase. Photochem Photobiol 2015; 91:1156-64. [PMID: 25989897 DOI: 10.1111/php.12467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
We present here the effect of firefly luciferase surface charge saturation and the presence of some additives on its thermal-induced aggregation. Three mutants of firefly luciferase prepared by introduction of surface Arg residues named as 2R, 3R and 5R have two, three and five additional arginine residues substituted at their surface compared to native luciferase; respectively. Turbidimetric study of heat-induced aggregation indicates that all three mutants were reproducibly aggregated at higher rates relative to wild type in spite of their higher thermostability. Among them, 2R had most evaluated propensity to heat-induced aggregation. Therefore, the hydrophilization followed by appearing of more substituted arginine residues with positive charge on the firefly luciferase surface was not reduced its thermal aggregation. Nevertheless, at the same condition in the presence of charged amino acids, e.g. Arg, Lys and Glu, as well as a hydrophobic amino acid, e.g. Val, the heat-induced aggregation of wild type and mutants of firefly luciferases was markedly decelerated than those in the absence of additives. On the basis of obtained results it seems, relinquishment of variety in charge of amino acid side chains, they via local interactions with proteins cause to decrease rate and extent of their thermal aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamileh Gharanlar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Tehran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saman Hosseinkhani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza H Sajedi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parichehr Yaghmaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Tehran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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18
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Amaral DT, Arnoldi FGC, Rosa SP, Viviani VR. Molecular phylogeny of Neotropical bioluminescent beetles (Coleoptera: Elateroidea) in southern and central Brazil. LUMINESCENCE 2013; 29:412-22. [DOI: 10.1002/bio.2561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2012] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- DT Amaral
- Graduate School of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring; Campus of Sorocaba; Sorocaba SP Brazil
- Graduate School of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology; Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar); São Carlos SP Brazil
| | - FGC Arnoldi
- Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine; São Paulo University (USP); Ribeirão Preto São Paulo Brazil
| | - SP Rosa
- Zoology Museum; São Paulo University; São Paulo Brazil
| | - VR Viviani
- Graduate School of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring; Campus of Sorocaba; Sorocaba SP Brazil
- Graduate School of Evolutive Genetics and Molecular Biology; Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar); São Carlos SP Brazil
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Muthukumaran T, KrishnaMurthy NV, Sivaprasad N, Sudhaharan T. Isolation and characterization of luciferase from Indian firefly,Luciola praeusta. LUMINESCENCE 2013; 29:20-8. [DOI: 10.1002/bio.2470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2012] [Revised: 11/14/2012] [Accepted: 11/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thuraimony Muthukumaran
- JONAKI Laboratory; Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology; CCMB Campus Hyderabad- 500007 India
- SMARTS, Metallurgy & Materials Group; Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research; Kalpakkam- 603102 India
| | - Nemani V KrishnaMurthy
- JONAKI Laboratory; Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology; CCMB Campus Hyderabad- 500007 India
- Department of Radiology; Dartmouth Medical School; 1 Medical Center Drive Lebanon- NH 03756 USA
| | - Nagalingam Sivaprasad
- JONAKI Laboratory; Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology; CCMB Campus Hyderabad- 500007 India
| | - Thankiah Sudhaharan
- JONAKI Laboratory; Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology; CCMB Campus Hyderabad- 500007 India
- Institute of Medical Biology; Singapore 138678
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20
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Oba Y, Furuhashi M, Bessho M, Sagawa S, Ikeya H, Inouye S. Bioluminescence of a firefly pupa: involvement of a luciferase isotype in the dim glow of pupae and eggs in the Japanese firefly, Luciola lateralis. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2013; 12:854-63. [DOI: 10.1039/c3pp25363e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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21
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Koksharov MI, Ugarova NN. Approaches to engineer stability of beetle luciferases. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2012; 2:e201209004. [PMID: 24688645 PMCID: PMC3962189 DOI: 10.5936/csbj.201209004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2012] [Revised: 09/09/2012] [Accepted: 09/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Luciferase enzymes from fireflies and other beetles have many important applications in molecular biology, biotechnology, analytical chemistry and several other areas. Many novel beetle luciferases with promising properties have been reported in the recent years. However, actual and potential applications of wild-type beetle luciferases are often limited by insufficient stability or decrease in activity of the enzyme at the conditions of a particular assay. Various examples of genetic engineering of the enhanced beetle luciferases have been reported that successfully solve or alleviate many of these limitations. This mini-review summarizes the recent advances in development of mutant luciferases with improved stability and activity characteristics. It discusses the common limitations of wild-type luciferases in different applications and presents the efficient approaches that can be used to address these problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail I Koksharov
- Department of Chemical Enzymology, Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Natalia N Ugarova
- Department of Chemical Enzymology, Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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Amaral DT, Prado RA, Viviani VR. Luciferase from Fulgeochlizus bruchi (Coleoptera:Elateridae), a Brazilian click-beetle with a single abdominal lantern: molecular evolution, biological function and comparison with other click-beetle luciferases. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2012; 11:1259-67. [PMID: 22572857 DOI: 10.1039/c2pp25037c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Bioluminescent click-beetles emit a wide range of bioluminescence colors (λ(Max) = 534-594 nm) from thoracic and abdominal lanterns, which are used for courtship. Only the luciferases from Pyrophorus and Pyrearinus species were cloned and sequenced. The Brazilian Fulgeochlizus bruchi click-beetle, which inhabits the Central-west Cerrado (Savannas), is noteworthy because, differently from other click-beetles, the adult stage displays only a functional abdominal lantern, which produces a bright green bioluminescence for sexual attraction purposes, and lacks functional thoracic lanterns. We cloned the cDNA for the abdominal lantern luciferase of this species. Notably, the primary sequence of this luciferase showed slightly higher identity with the green emitting dorsal lantern luciferases of the Pyrophorus genus instead of the abdominal lanterns luciferases. This luciferase displays a blue-shifted spectrum (λ(Max) = 540 nm), which is pH-insensitive from pH 7.5 to 9.5 and undergoes a slight red shift and broadening above this pH; the lowest K(M) for luciferin among studied click-beetle luciferases, and the highest optimum pH (9.0) ever reported for a beetle luciferase. At pH 9.0, the K(M) for luciferin increases, showing a decrease of affinity for this substrate, despite the higher activity. The slow luminescence decay rate of F. bruchi luciferase in vitro reaction could be an adaptation of this luciferase for the long and sustained in vivo luminescence display of the click-beetle during the courtship, and could be useful for in vivo intracellular imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo T Amaral
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of Bioluminescence, Graduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Campus of Sorocaba, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
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23
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Oba Y, Branham MA, Fukatsu T. The Terrestrial Bioluminescent Animals of Japan. Zoolog Sci 2011; 28:771-89. [DOI: 10.2108/zsj.28.771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Oba Y, Yoshida M, Shintani T, Furuhashi M, Inouye S. Firefly luciferase genes from the subfamilies Psilocladinae and Ototretinae (Lampyridae, Coleoptera). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2011; 161:110-6. [PMID: 22008901 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2011.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2011] [Revised: 10/03/2011] [Accepted: 10/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Firefly luciferase genes have been isolated from approximately 20 species of Lampyrinae, Luciolinae, and Photurinae. These are mostly nocturnal luminescent species that use light signals for sexual communication. In this study, we isolated three cDNAs for firefly luciferase from Psilocladinae (Cyphonocerus ruficollis) and Ototretinae (Drilaster axillaris and Stenocladius azumai), which are diurnal non-luminescent or weakly luminescent species that may use pheromones for communication. The amino acid sequences deduced from the three cDNAs showed 81-89% identities to each other and 60-81% identities with known firefly luciferases. The three purified recombinant proteins showed luminescence and fatty acyl-CoA synthetic activities, as observed in other firefly luciferases. The emission maxima by the three firefly luciferases (λmax, 545-546nm) were shorter than those by known luciferases from the nocturnal fireflies (λmax, 550-568nm). These results suggest that the primary structures and enzymatic properties of luciferases are conserved in Lampyridae, but the luminescence colors were red-shifted in nocturnal species compared to diurnal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Oba
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
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