Theoretical analysis of the color tuning mechanism of oxyluciferin and 5-hydroxyoxyluciferin

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

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

Journal

Title: Computational and Theoretical Chemistry

Vol. 988

Pages: 56-62

ISSN: 2210-271X

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 9 Citations

Scopus - 9 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-A37

DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2012.02.029

Abstract (EN): Firefly luciferase exhibits a multicolor bioluminescence, which is caused by the modulation of the emission of oxyluciferin by intermolecular interactions. One of the objectives of the present paper was analyze the possible effect of the charge density of the emitter in the color tuning. Theoretical calculations on oxyluciferin, and its respective moieties, demonstrated that no correlation between charge density and light emission can be found once solvent effects are considered. Further computational calculations demonstrate that intermolecular interactions modulate the emission by affecting the geometry of oxyluciferin, which controls the energy gap between the excited and ground state. Direct intermolecular interactions and polarity also affect the color of emission of oxyluciferin, by the same mechanism. Also, the effect of charge density modulation of Keto-(-1). A novel emitter, 5-hydroxyoxyluciferin, was considered and demonstrated to be more red-shifted that oxyluciferin.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7