2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Studies on the biosynthesis of firefly luciferin
| Project/Area Number |
23310159
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Chemical biology
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| Research Institution | Nagoya University |
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Principal Investigator |
OBA YUICHI 名古屋大学, 生命農学研究科, 助教 (40332704)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2011-11-18 – 2014-03-31
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| Keywords | ルシフェリン / 生合成 / 分子イメージング / ホタル |
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| Research Abstract |
We found that firefly luciferin is biosynthesized from one molecule of hydroquinone/benzoquinone and two molecules of L-cysteine in the adult firefly, accompanied by the decarboxylation of L-cysteine. Furthermore, we could not detect hydroquinone/benzoquinone, but significant amount of arbutin, a glycosilated 'non toxic' form of hydroquinone, in firefly.
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