Luciferases

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Luciferases
Enzyme classification
EC, category 1.13.12.- ,  oxygenase
Response type Redox reaction
Substrate Luciferin + O 2

Luciferases are structurally different enzymes whose catalytic activity causes luciferins to react with oxygen to form energy-rich, unstable dioxetanes or dioxetanones ( oxidation ). When these substances break down, bioluminescence occurs . A distinction is made between firefly luciferases (from firefly ), in which luciferol, ATP and oxygen react to form carbon dioxide , AMP and light, and Renilla luciferases, which only require luciferol and oxygen (no ATP) for reaction.

Luciferases are species or group-specific, that is, they are characteristic of each group of animals. In the course of evolution, the luciferases emerged from other enzymes, the oxygenases . Most luciferases have a pH optimum of 6.3 and require Mg 2+ or Ca 2+ ions for the catalyzed reaction. The best investigated luciferases are those of the firefly Photinus pyralis and those of the sea feather Renilla reniformis , whose pH optimum is below 8.

Use in analytics and biological research

Luciferases can be used in appropriately structured detection systems together with luciferins for the highly specific qualitative and quantitative detection of ATP (detection limit 10 −11 mol ), NADH and oxygen suitable for minimal quantities .

The luciferase genes from Photinus pyralis and Renilla reniformis are used as reporter genes in functional genetic research . Both enzymes are often used in the same approach ( dual luciferase assay ). If the luciferase gene is inserted into a coding DNA segment behind a promoter, the strength of the resulting bioluminescence allows conclusions to be drawn about the promoter or gene activity.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Greer, LF & Szalay, AA (2002): Imaging of light emission from the expression of luciferases in living cells and organisms: a review. In: Luminescence. Vol. 17, pp. 43-74. PMID 11816060 doi : 10.1002 / bio.676
  2. ^ Wissenschaft-Online-Lexika: Entry on luciferases in the Lexikon der Chemie , accessed April 2, 2008.
  3. ↑ M. Hampf, M. Gossen: A protocol for combined Photinus and Renilla luciferase quantification compatible with protein assays. In: Analytical biochemistry. Volume 356, Number 1, September 2006, pp. 94-99, ISSN  0003-2697 . doi : 10.1016 / year from 2006.04.046 . PMID 16750160 .
  4. ↑ pjk-gmbh.de: Renilla Assays , accessed on June 13, 2013.

See also

Web links