[Effect of quinones on enzymatic bioluminescence of NADH-dependent systems].

The effects of a number of quinones on the bioluminescence characteristics of a three-component enzymatic system containing alcohol dehydrogenase, bacterial luciferase, and NADH-FMN oxidoreductase were studied to find the most sensitive kinetic parameters of the system intended to be used in biological testing. Both direct and back reactions catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenase were studied in the presence and in the absence of quinones. The kinetic parameters of the bioluminescent system were found to depend on the redox potentials and concentrations of quinones.

The influence of quinones and phenols on the triple NAD(H)-dependent enzyme systems.

Kinetics of the triple bioluminescent enzyme system: alcohol dehydrogenase--NADH:FMN-oxidoreductase--luciferase in the presence of quinones and phenols has been studied. The correspondence between the bioluminescent kinetic parameters, redox potentials and concentrations of the quinones and phenols has been estimated. The substances have been shown to change bioluminescent kinetics through moving off the NAD+/NADH balance in the enzyme processes.

Practical enzymology course based on bioluminescence.

We describe our experience with laboratory courses in enzymology based on the phenomenon of bioluminescence. The soluble and immobilized enzymes of luminous bacteria are used and the practical enzymological course consists of four main courses: (1) training in measuring the activities of soluble and immobilized enzymes; (2) the investigation of kinetic characteristics (kinetic constants) and enzyme-substrate and enzyme-inhibitor interactions in the bacterial bioluminescent reaction; (3) The testing of physico-chemical characteristics of enzymes (pH, temperature, ion strength, etc.); (4) the effect of inhibitors on enzymes.