Constructing firefly luciferin bioluminescence probes for imaging.

Org Biomol Chem

Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.

Published: February 2022

Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a widely applied visual approach for real-time detecting many physiological and pathological processes in a variety of biological systems. Based on the caging strategy, lots of bioluminescent probes have been well developed. While the targets react with recognizable groups, caged luciferins liberate luciferase substrates, which react with luciferase generating a bioluminescent response. Among the various bioluminescent systems, the most widely utilized bioluminescent system is the firefly luciferin system. The H and carboxylic acid of luciferin are critically caged sites. The introduced self-immolative linker extends the applications of probes. Firefly luciferin system probes have been successfully applied for analyzing physiological processes, monitoring the environment, diagnosing diseases, screening candidate drugs, and evaluating the therapeutic effect. Here, we systematically review the general design strategies of firefly luciferin bioluminescence probes and their applications. Bioluminescence probes provide a new approach for facilitating investigation in a diverse range of fields. It inspires us to explore more robust light emission luciferin and novel design strategies to develop bioluminescent probes.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d1ob01940fDOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

firefly luciferin
16
bioluminescence probes
12
luciferin bioluminescence
8
bioluminescent probes
8
luciferin system
8
design strategies
8
probes
7
luciferin
6
bioluminescent
5
constructing firefly
4

Similar Publications

A practical, biomimetic, one-pot synthesis of firefly luciferin.

Sci Rep

December 2024

Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.

The bioluminescence reaction of firefly luciferase with D-luciferin has become an indispensable imaging technique in modern biology and life science experiments, but the high cost of D-luciferin is limiting its further application. Here, we report a practical, one-pot synthesis of D-luciferin from p-benzoquinone (p-BQ), L-cysteine methyl ester and D-cysteine, with an overall yield of 46%. Our route, which is six steps in length and proceeds via 2-cyano-6-hydroxybenzothiazole, is inspired by the mechanistic study of our previously reported biomimetic, non-enzymatic, one-pot formation of L-luciferin from p-BQ and L-cysteine.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

PEGylated ATP-Independent Luciferins for Noninvasive High-Sensitivity High-Speed Bioluminescence Imaging.

ACS Chem Biol

January 2025

Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States.

Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a powerful, noninvasive imaging method for animal studies. NanoLuc luciferase and its derivatives are attractive bioluminescent reporters recognized for their efficient photon production and ATP independence. However, utilizing them for animal imaging poses notable challenges.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Proinflammatory TREM1 receptors expressed on myeloid-derived cells have recently been recognized as a new oncogenic target in cancer, including gliomas. They are established chemotherapeutic targets in neurodegenerative Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, and they also contribute to stroke and sepsis severities. TREM1 activation requires the TREM1/DAP12 interaction for receptor clustering and signal transduction coordinated by TREM1 ligands.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A Microplate-Based Expression Monitoring System for Arabidopsis Using the Luciferase Reporter.

Bio Protoc

December 2024

Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Article Synopsis
  • Gene expression analysis helps understand how genes work and how plants respond to their environment, but traditional methods can be expensive and slow.
  • This study introduces a faster and cheaper method using a chemiluminescence system to measure gene expression in Arabidopsis, specifically focusing on a key nitrate transporter gene.
  • The process involves growing genetically modified Arabidopsis seedlings in a nutrient solution, followed by monitoring luminescent signals after adding nitrate, allowing for efficient comparison of different plant genotypes and nutrient conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bioluminescent images of viral replication in live animals (in vivo) reveal disease dynamics and effects of medical countermeasures over time. After selecting an appropriate orthopoxvirus animal model for the study, a recombinant virus with the firefly luciferase gene inserted in the genome is used to infect the animals. On the day of bioluminescent imaging, the substrate, D-luciferin, is prepared; animals are sedated and injected with the substrate and IVIS imager is utilized; various bioluminescent images are acquired; then animals recover and are able to continue in the study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!