Creation of Bright Near-Infrared Bioluminescent Probes and Their Application to Tumor Imaging

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24225001
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Analytical chemistry
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Koji 慶應義塾大学, 理工学部(矢上), 教授 (80154540)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 佐藤 守俊 東京大学, 総合文化研究科, 准教授 (00323501)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KIM Sung-Bae 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 環境管理研究部門, 主任研究員 (60470043)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-05-31 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 分子イメージング / 化学発光 / 生物発光 / タンパク質プローブ / Bioimaging / Coelenterazine (CTZ) / Luciferin / Luciferase

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Bioluminescence is emitted by an enzymatic reaction involving a bioluminescent substrate luciferin and an enzyme luciferase. One of luciferases, Renilla (RLuc), generates cofactor-free bioluminescence with native coelenterazine (nCTZ). The design of novel CTZ derivatives resulting in enhanced optical intensity with prolonged bioluminescence is challenging. Our developed novel CTZ derivative with extension at the C-6 position of the imidazopyrazinone show significant bioluminescence emission with RLuc variant (RLuc8.6-535). This CTZ derivative exhibited about 50 times higher than that of DeepBlueCTM. Optical bioimaging of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) facilitates comprehensive elucidation of intracellular molecular events. We developed an optical measure for visualizing molecular tension triggered by any PPI named “a combinational probe”. This type of probe expands capabilities of luciferases as a tool for analyses of molecular dynamics and cell signaling in living subjects.

Free Research Field

分析化学