Biosensing firefly luciferin synthesis in bacteria reveals a cysteine-dependent quinone detoxification route in Coleoptera.

ABSTRACT: Luciferin biosynthetic origin and alternative biological functions during the evolution of beetles remain unknown. We have set up a bioluminescent sensing method for luciferin synthesis from cysteine and benzoquinone using E. coli and Pichia pastoris expressing the bright Amydetes vivianii firefly and P. termitilluminans click beetle luciferases. In the presence of D-cysteine and benzoquinone, intense bioluminescence is quickly produced, indicating the expected formation of D-luciferin. Starting with L-cysteine and benzoquinone, the bioluminescence is weaker and delayed, indicating that bacteria produce L-luciferin, and then racemize it to D-luciferin in the presence of endogenous esterases, CoA and luciferase. In bacteria the p-benzoquinone toxicity (I_C50 ~ 25 µM) is considerab

SUBMITTER: de Souza DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9433453 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature