bi501202u_si_001.pdf (2.06 MB)
A Photinus pyralis and Luciola italica Chimeric Firefly Luciferase Produces Enhanced Bioluminescence
journal contribution
posted on 2014-10-14, 00:00 authored by Bruce R. Branchini, Tara L. Southworth, Danielle M. Fontaine, Audrey
L. Davis, Curran E. Behney, Martha H. MurtiashawWe report the enhanced bioluminescence
properties of a chimeric
enzyme (PpyLit) that contains the N-domain of recombinant Photinus pyralis luciferase joined to the C-domain of recombinant Luciola italica luciferase. Compared to the P. pyralis enzyme, the novel PpyLit chimera exhibited 1.8-fold enhanced flash-height
specific activity, 2.0-fold enhanced integration-based specific activity,
2.9-fold enhanced catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km), and a 1.4-fold greater bioluminescence
quantum yield. The results of this study provide an underlying basis
of this unusual example of a chimeric enzyme with enhanced catalytic
properties that are not simply the sum of the contributions of the
two luciferases.