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Novel Mechanism of Bioluminescence: Oxidative Decarboxylation of a Moiety Adjacent to the Light Emitter of Fridericia Luciferin
Author(s) -
Dubinnyi Maxim A.,
Kaskova Zinaida M.,
Rodionova Natalja S.,
Baranov Mikhail S.,
Gorokhovatsky Andrey Yu.,
Kotlobay Alexey,
Solntsev Kyril M.,
Tsarkova Aleksandra S.,
Petushkov Valentin N.,
Yampolsky Ilia V.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201501668
Subject(s) - bioluminescence , luciferin , decarboxylation , chemistry , moiety , oxidative decarboxylation , oxidative phosphorylation , photoprotein , light emission , luciferase , luciferases , biophysics , stereochemistry , biochemistry , biology , enzyme , catalysis , transfection , physics , optoelectronics , gene
A novel luciferin from a bioluminescent Siberian earthworm Fridericia heliota was recently described. In this study, the Fridericia oxyluciferin was isolated and its structure elucidated. The results provide insight into a novel bioluminescence mechanism in nature. Oxidative decarboxylation of a lysine fragment of the luciferin supplies energy for light generation, while a fluorescent CompX moiety remains intact and serves as the light emitter.