A luciferin analogue generating near-infrared bioluminescence achieves highly sensitive deep-tissue imaging

Takahiro Kuchimaru, Satoshi Iwano, Masahiro Kiyama, Shun Mitsumata, Tetsuya Kadonosono, Haruki Niwa, Shojiro Maki and Shinae Kizaka-Kondoh ()
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Takahiro Kuchimaru: School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Satoshi Iwano: Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications
Masahiro Kiyama: Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications
Shun Mitsumata: School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tetsuya Kadonosono: School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Haruki Niwa: Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications
Shojiro Maki: Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications
Shinae Kizaka-Kondoh: School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract In preclinical cancer research, bioluminescence imaging with firefly luciferase and D-luciferin has become a standard to monitor biological processes both in vitro and in vivo. However, the emission maximum (λmax) of bioluminescence produced by D-luciferin is 562 nm where light is not highly penetrable in biological tissues. This emphasizes a need for developing a red-shifted bioluminescence imaging system to improve detection sensitivity of targets in deep tissue. Here we characterize the bioluminescent properties of the newly synthesized luciferin analogue, AkaLumine-HCl. The bioluminescence produced by AkaLumine-HCl in reactions with native firefly luciferase is in the near-infrared wavelength ranges (λmax=677 nm), and yields significantly increased target-detection sensitivity from deep tissues with maximal signals attained at very low concentrations, as compared with D-luciferin and emerging synthetic luciferin CycLuc1. These characteristics offer a more sensitive and accurate method for non-invasive bioluminescence imaging with native firefly luciferase in various animal models.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11856

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