Study of firefly luciferin oxidation and isomerism as possible inhibition pathways for firefly bioluminescence

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Luis Pinto da Silva (Author) Other; Joaquim C G E Esteves da Silva (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Chemical Physics Letters

Vol. 592

Pages: 188-191

ISSN: 0009-2614

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 4 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-ZCQ

DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2013.12.047

Abstract (EN): Firefly bioluminescence presents a light emitting profile with a form of a flash, due to the firefly luciferase-catalyzed formation of inhibitory products. These impair the binding of the substrate luciferin to the active site of the enzyme. However, this luciferase catalyzed pathways may not be the only ones responsible for the flash profile. The oxidation and isomerisation of the substrate luciferin lead to the formation of compounds that are also known inhibitors of firefly bioluminescence. So, the objective of this Letter was to analyze if these reactions could be capable of interfering with the bioluminescence reaction.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 4