A full-length clone encoding Lampyris noctiluca (British glow-worm) luciferase was isolated from a complementary DNA (cDNA) expression library constructed with mRNA extracted from light organs. The luciferase was a 547-residue protein, as deduced from the nucleotide sequence. The protein was closely related to those of other lampyrid beetles, the similarity to Photinus pyralis luciferase being 84% and to Luciola 67%. In contrast, Lampyris luciferase had less sequence similarity to the luciferases of the click beetle Pyrophorus, at 48%. Engineering Lampyris luciferase in vitro showed that the C-terminal peptide containing 12 amino acids in Photinus and 9 amino acids in Lampyris was essential for bioluminescence. The pH optimum and the Km values for ATP and luciferin were similar for both Photinus and Lampyris luciferases, although the light emitted by the latter shifted towards the blue and was less stable at 37 °C. It was concluded that the molecular and biochemical properties were not sufficient to explain the glowing or flashing of the two beetles Lampyris and Photinus.
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Research Article|
February 01 1996
Sequence and biochemical similarities between the luciferases of the glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca and the firefly Photinus pyralis
Graciela B. SALA-NEWBY;
Graciela B. SALA-NEWBY
*
1Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN, U.K.
*To whom correspondence should be addressed.
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Catherine M. THOMSON;
Catherine M. THOMSON
1Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN, U.K.
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Anthony K. CAMPBELL
Anthony K. CAMPBELL
1Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
July 10 1995
Revision Received:
September 07 1995
Accepted:
September 13 1995
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
The Biochemical Society, London © 1996
1996
Biochem J (1996) 313 (3): 761–767.
Article history
Received:
July 10 1995
Revision Received:
September 07 1995
Accepted:
September 13 1995
Citation
Graciela B. SALA-NEWBY, Catherine M. THOMSON, Anthony K. CAMPBELL; Sequence and biochemical similarities between the luciferases of the glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca and the firefly Photinus pyralis. Biochem J 1 February 1996; 313 (3): 761–767. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bj3130761
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