Illuminating the mechanism and allosteric behavior of NanoLuc luciferase

NanoLuc, a superior β-barrel fold luciferase, was engineered 10 years ago but the nature of its catalysis remains puzzling. Here experimental and computational techniques are combined, revealing that imidazopyrazinone luciferins bind to an intra-barrel catalytic site but also to an allosteric site shaped on the enzyme surface. Structurally, binding to the allosteric site prevents simultaneous binding to the catalytic site, and vice versa, through concerted conformational changes. We demonstrate that restructuration of the allosteric site can boost the luminescent reaction in the remote active site. Mechanistically, an intra-barrel arginine coordinates the imidazopyrazinone component of luciferin, which reacts with O2 via a radical charge-transfer mechanism, and then it also protonates the resulting excited amide product to form a light-emitting neutral species. Concomitantly, an aspartate, supported by two tyrosines, fine-tunes the blue color emitter to secure a high emission intensity. This information is critical to engineering the next-generation of ultrasensitive bioluminescent reporters.

On Pyridopyrazinol Chemistry: Synthesis of Chemiluminescent Substances

Our work on new chemiluminescent substances related to the marine luciferin coelenterazine (λmax = 465 nm) led us to attempt the synthesis of four nitrogen-rich pyridopyrazine-bearing analogues. Accordingly, the preparation of the corresponding benzyl-bearing pyridopyrazinols is studied. By varying the conditions for the condensation of phenylpyruvic acid with 1,2-diaminopyridine or 3,4-diaminopyridine, all the possible pyridopyrazin-2-ol regioisomers are isolated and properly characterized, including by means of crystallographic studies. The ensuing syntheses of the halogenated pyridopyrazines are fraught with difficulties ranging from extensive decomposition to an unexpected ring contraction. In one instance, the inherently reductive mixture of phosphorus oxychloride and phosphorus trichloride provides 2-benzyl-3-chloropyrido[2,3-b]pyrazine. This precursor is then transformed into the target O-acetylated luciferin (6,8-dibenzylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrido[3,2-e]pyrazin-9-yl acetate). The ‘benzo’ derivative of this analogue (i.e., 2,12-dibenzylimidazo[1′,2′:1,6]pyrazino[2,3-c]isoquinolin-3-yl acetate) is also prepared and the chemiluminescence emission spectra of these compounds are determined in a phosphate buffer (λmax = 546 and 462 nm).

Core-Modified Coelenterazine Luciferin Analogues: Synthesis and Chemiluminescence Properties

In this work on the design and studies of luciferins related to the blue-hued coelenterazine, the synthesis of heterocyclic analogues susceptible to produce a photon, possibly at a different wavelength, is undertaken. Here, the synthesis of O-acetylated derivatives of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazin-3(5 H)-one, imidazo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-7(1 H)-one, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-ol, imidazo[1,2-a]quinoxalin-1(5 H)-one, benzo[f]imidazo[1,2-a]quinoxalin-3(11 H)-one, imidazo[1',2':1,6]pyrazino[2,3-c]quinolin-3(11 H)-one, and 5,11-dihydro-3 H-chromeno[4,3-e]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one is described thanks to extensive use of the Buchwald-Hartwig N-arylation reaction. The acidic hydrolysis of these derivatives then gave solutions of the corresponding luciferin analogues, which were studied. Not too unexpectedly, even if these were "dressed" with substituents found in actual substrates of the nanoKAZ/NanoLuc luciferase, no bioluminescence was observed with these compounds. However, in a phosphate buffer, all produced a light signal, by chemiluminescence, with extensive variations in their respective intensity and this could be increased by adding a quaternary ammonium salt in the buffer. This aspect was actually instrumental to determine the emission spectra of many of these luciferin analogues.

Bioluminescence Profiling of NanoKAZ/NanoLuc Luciferase Using a Chemical Library of Coelenterazine Analogues

We describe here an extensive structure-bioluminescence relationship study of a chemical library of analogues of coelenterazine, using nanoKAZ/NanoLuc, a mutated luciferase originated from the catalytic subunit of the deep-sea shrimp Oplophorus gracilirostris. Out of the 135 O-acetylated precursors that were prepared by using our recently reported synthesis and following their hydrolysis to give solutions of the corresponding luciferins, notable bioluminescence improvements were achieved in comparison with furimazine, which is currently amongst the best substrates of nanoKAZ/NanoLuc. For instance, the rather more lipophilic analogue 8-(2,3-difluorobenzyl)-2-((5-methylfuran-2-yl)methyl)-6-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(7H)-one provided a 1.5-fold improvement of the total light output over a 2 h period, a close to threefold increase of the initial signal intensity and a signal-to-background ratio five times greater than furimazine. The kinetic parameters for the enzymatic reaction were obtained for a selection of luciferin analogues and provided unexpected insights into the luciferase activity. Most prominently, along with a general substrate-dependent and irreversible inactivation of this enzyme, in the case of the optimized luciferin mentioned above, the consumption of 2664 molecules was found to be required for the detection of a single Relative Light Unit (RLU; a luminometer-dependent fraction of a photon).

Gram-scale synthesis of luciferins derived from coelenterazine and original insights into their bioluminescence properties

An original three component synthetic access to coelenterazine and analogues can lead to grams of marine luciferins which are extensively used in bioluminescence-based assays.

Unnatural α-amino ethyl esters from diethyl malonate or ethyl β-bromo-α-hydroxyiminocarboxylate

We have explored here the scope of the age-old diethyl malonate-based accesses to α-amino esters involving Knoevenagel condensations of diethyl malonate on aldehydes, reductions of the resulting alkylidenemalonates, the preparation of the corresponding α-hydroxyimino esters and their final reduction. This synthetic pathway turned out to be general although some unexpected limitations were encountered. The synthetic modifications of some of the intermediates - using Suzuki-Miyaura coupling or cycloadditions - before undertaking the oximation step - provided accesses to further α-amino esters. Moreover, other pathways to α-hydroxyimino esters were explored including an attempt to improve the cycloadditions between ethyl β-bromo-α-hydroxyiminocarboxylate and various alkylfuranes.

Synthesis of unnatural α-amino esters using ethyl nitroacetate and condensation or cycloaddition reactions

We report here on the use of ethyl nitroacetate as a glycine template to produce α-amino esters. This started with a study of its condensation with various arylacetals to give ethyl 3-aryl-2-nitroacrylates followed by a reduction (NaBH₄ and then zinc/HCl) into α-amino esters. The scope of this method was explored as well as an alternative with arylacylals instead. We also focused on various [2 + 3] cycloadditions, one leading to a spiroacetal, which led to the undesired ethyl 5-(benzamidomethyl)isoxazole-3-carboxylate. The addition of ethyl nitroacetate on a 5-methylene-4,5-dihydrooxazole using cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate was also explored and the synthesis of other oxazole-bearing α-amino esters was achieved using gold(I) chemistry.

Synthesis of α-Amino Esters via α-Nitro or α-Oxime Esters: A Review

This review is an in-depth survey of the reported synthetic approaches for the preparation of racemic α-amino esters via the reduction of α-nitro or α-oxime ester intermediates. Accordingly, it describes the many pathways that have been designed to prepare such intermediates­. This includes synthesis starting with α-nitroacetates, dialkyl malonates, acetoacetates, diethyl oxalates as well as [2+3] or [2+4] cycloadditions using, respectively, alkyl carbonocyanidate N-oxides or alkyl 2-nitrosoacrylates. This review also contains the description of a myriad of side reactions which can occur when working with α-nitro esters­.

1 Introduction

2 α-Amino Esters from α-Nitroacetates via Condensation Reactions

3 α-Amino Esters via C-Alkylation or C-Arylation of α-Nitroacetates

4 α-Amino Esters from α-Nitroacetates Using Other Reactions

5 Synthesis of α-Amino Esters via α-Oxime Esters

6 Synthesis of α-Amino Esters via [2+3] Cycloadditions

7 Synthesis of α-Amino Esters via [2+4] Cycloadditions

8 On the Reduction of α-Oxime Esters

9 Conclusion

[Bacterial periodontal plaque in childhood. Literature review]

Bacterial colonization is investigated: before eruption, in primary dentition, mixed dentition and permanent dentition, with and without gingival inflammation. Microorganisms such as spirochetes and Black pigmented Bacteroides are implicated in the periodontal disease. These germs arrive later than teeth and their importance grows with age and gingival inflammation. Different reviews have emphasised the potential role of specific pathogens in the aetiology of periodontitis. The plaque composition of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis and periodontitis in their pre and post pubertal forms, localized and generalized is investigated. A actinomycetemcomitans, B. intermedius and spirochetes can be isolated from children having destructive periodontal disease. Changes in flora can then be explained.

[Prevalence of juvenile periodontitis in Ille-et-Vilaine. Study of an orthodontic population]

The incidence of Juvenile Periodontitis was studied in 1600 patients residing in Ille et Vilaine, France. The diagnosis was established by the use of panoramic radiography on orthodontic patients. Among this population of patients only 3 cases of Juvenile Periodontitis were found. This incidence of 0.187% is similar to that found in other industrialized countries.

["T" lymphocytes. Their role in periodontal disease]

The immune response is now proved to be of great importance in the control of periodontal diseases. The predominant role of T lymphocytes in the mechanisms of specific immunity is admitted and is related to the functions of effectors T cells and T-helper cells, controlling the response of macrophages and the antibody production. The relations between the evolution of the disease and the tissular T/B and T4/T8 ratio and the lymphocyte function tests are discussed.

[Evaluation of the activity of leukocytes during experimental periodontitis in the monkey]

Polymorphonuclear leucocytes play an important role in the defense mechanisms and destruction of periodontal tissues. The leucocytes number and activity were compared during an induced periodontitis in 3 Cercopithecus cephus. On day 0, the 3 animals presented a localized marginal gingivitis. On 2 animals a severe marginal periodontitis was induced unilaterally: 42 days later leucocytes were sampled in the peripheral blood, in the gingival blood and in the gingival sulcus on the experimental and control sites as well as on the 2 hemijaws of the control animal. For each sample, a leucocyte count and a chemiluminescence test were done. Different results related to the disease severity were obtained with these tests for gingival blood and sulcular fluid.

[Chemiluminescence of phagocytic cells in chronic gingivitis and adult periodontitis]

Measurement of chemiluminescence (CL) produced by phagocytic cells spontaneously or upon stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was performed in patients with gingivitis and adult periodontitis, and in control healthy subjects. The study was performed simultaneously on phagocytic cells obtained from peripheral blood and from gingival blood, and on crevicular leukocytes. An elevated CL production was obtained in quiescent and PMA-stimulated phagocytic cells from peripheral blood in patients with gingivitis or periodontitis compared to non-diseased controls. Chemiluminescence produced by unstimulated crevicular phagocytes was similar to that of peripheral blood phagocytes in normal subjects, but it was decreased in periodontitis. Upon PMA stimulation, the CL response of crevicular phagocytes remained low in the three groups of subjects.

[Factor analysis of correspondances applied to a study on oral hygiene]

A global analysis method (the factorial analysis of correspondances) was applied to a study of oral hygiene. This first trial showed that this method of analysis is valid in this field confirming the relationship "absence of hygiene"--"periodontal disease" and the antogonism between the presence of caries and periodontal diseases in young subjects on military duty.