In vitro energy transfer in Renilla bioluminescence

Conference · Thu Sep 23 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · J. Phys. Chem.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7343168

Ward, W W; Cormier, M J

A quantitative study of in vitro energy transfer in a natural biological system is reported. The in vitro bioluminescent oxidation of Renilla (sea pansy) luciferin by luciferase produces a broad, structureless emission, peaking in the blue at 490 nm. In contrast, the live animal produces a structured emission peaking in the green at 509 nm. This difference in emission characteristics is due to the presence, in Renilla, of a green fluorescent protein (GFP). Addition of GFP in vitro sensitizes the oxyluciferin product excited state, resulting in the narrow, structured green emission characteristic of GFP fluorescence (lambda/sub max/ 509 nm). Under conditions of efficient in vitro energy transfer (2.7 x 10/sup -6/ M GFP) the radiative quantum yield (with respect to luciferin) increases 5.7-fold from 5.3% (blue pathway) to 30% (green pathway). The fluorescence quantum yield of the Renilla GFP has been measured as 30%; thus, within the precision of our measurements (15% coefficient of variation) the in vitro energy transfer efficiency is a surprising 100%.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Georgia, Athens
• OSTI ID: 7343168
• Conference Information: Journal Name: J. Phys. Chem.; (United States) Journal Volume: 80:20
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400104* -- Spectral Procedures-- (-1987)
400301 -- Organic Chemistry-- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties-- (-1987)
550200 -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALBUMINS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENZYMES
FLUORESCENCE
LUCIFERASE
LUCIFERIN
LUMINESCENCE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDASES
OXIDATION
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PROTEINS
SPECTRA