What is the function of luciferin?
Luciferins are a class of small-molecule substrates that react with oxygen in the presence of a luciferase (an enzyme) to release energy in the form of light.
How is luciferin used in medicine?
For example, luciferase is an enzyme that catalyses a reaction in which the chemical luciferin reacts with molecular oxygen to create light. Clinically, optical spectroscopy has been shown to be useful in identifying and monitoring cancer, because the characteristics of light emission change as cancer develops.
Who founded luciferase?
Paolo Panceri (1833–1877) is noted for his publications on the anatomy and histology of various types of luminous organisms, and Raphaël Dubois (1849–1929) discovered luciferin and luciferase. The secrets of the chemistry of bioluminescence, however, began to be uncovered only in the 20th century.
When was luciferase first used?
While DuBois discovered the reaction between luciferin and luciferase in 1885, it was not until the late 1940s when the luciferase protein was first extracted and purified firefly lanterns by Drs. Green and McElroy.
How is luciferase produced?
Luciferases can be produced in the lab through genetic engineering for a number of purposes. Luciferase genes can be synthesized and inserted into organisms or transfected into cells. As of 2002, mice, silkworms, and potatoes are just a few of the organisms that have already been engineered to produce the protein.
Can bioluminescence happen in humans?
Just as bioluminescence occurs due to chemical metabolic reactions in other known bioluminescent creatures, bioluminescence occurs in humans due to metabolic reactions as well. When cells of the human body respire, they produce highly reactive free radicals.
How is luciferin decarboxylated?
Luciferin undergoes a reaction of oxidative decarboxylation at pH 7.75 in the presence of ATP, oxygen, and a firefly luciferase (EC 1.13.12.7), yielding oxyluciferin, CO2, AMP, pyrophosphate, and light emission. Xincai Ji, Stephen C. Miller, in Methods in Enzymology, 2020
How is luciferin converted to oxyluciferin?
Luciferin is converted with ATP into a form capable of being catalytically oxidized by luciferase. The oxyluciferin in an excited state returns to a stable situation with the emission of light (yellow-green, (λ max = 565 nm) and the formation of CO 2 and AMP.
What is the caged luciferin strategy?
The caged luciferin strategy focuses on the functional groups of the substrate required for bioluminescence.
What is luciferin-luciferase reaction?
Luciferin-luciferase reaction: the energy produced by luciferase as a result of the oxidation of its small-molecule substrate luciferin, can release a photon of light which can be captured by sensitive detector and it is proportional to the amount of intracellular ATP. View chapter Purchase book