scholarly journals Membrane-permeable luciferin esters for assay of firefly luciferase in live intact cells

1991 ◽  
Vol 276 (3) ◽  
pp. 637-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
F F Craig ◽  
A C Simmonds ◽  
D Watmore ◽  
F McCapra ◽  
M R H White
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Firefly Luciferase ◽  
Luciferase Expression ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Cos Cells ◽  
Escherichia Coli Cells ◽  
Luminescent Signal ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Kinetics Of

Five esters of luciferin were synthesized and compared with native luciferin as substrates for firefly luciferase expressed in live intact mammalian cells. The esters themselves were not substrates for purified luciferase, but four were substrates for a purified esterase and all appeared to be hydrolysed to luciferin within mammalian cells. At a substrate concentration of 0.01 mM, the peak luminescence from the cos cells expressing luciferase was up to 6-fold greater with the esters than with unmodified luciferin. At 0.1 mM, the difference between luciferin and the esters was decreased. The kinetics of the luminescent signal with the different luciferin esters varied significantly, indicating possible differences in the rates of uptake, breakdown and enzyme inhibition. The esters did not support luminescence from Escherichia coli cells expressing firefly luciferase, suggesting a lack of appropriate esterase activity in this particular strain. The esters could be useful for the assay of luciferase expression in intact mammalian cells when luciferin levels are limiting, for example in tissues, and in plants. Alternative luciferin derivatives may allow further improvements in sensitivity.

scholarly journals Scanning Electron-Assisted Dielectric Microscopy Reveals Autophagosome Formation by LC3 and ATG12 in Cultured Mammalian Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1834
Author(s):  
Tomoko Okada ◽  
Toshihiko Ogura
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Related Gene ◽  
Autophagosome Formation ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Microtubule Associated Proteins ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Related Proteins ◽  
Scanning Electron

Autophagy is an intracellular self-devouring system that plays a central role in cellular recycling. The formation of functional autophagosomes depends on several autophagy-related proteins, including the microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3 (LC3) and the conserved autophagy-related gene 12 (Atg12). We have recently developed a novel scanning electron-assisted dielectric microscope (SE-ADM) for nanoscale observations of intact cells. Here, we used the SE-ADM system to observe LC3- and Atg12-containing autophagosomes in cells labelled in the culture medium with antibodies conjugated to colloidal gold particles. We observed that, during autophagosome formation, Atg12 localized along the actin meshwork structure, whereas LC3 formed arcuate or circular alignments. Our system also showed a difference in the distribution of LC3 and Atg12; Atg12 was broadly distributed while LC3 was more localized. The difference in the spatial distribution demonstrated by our system explains the difference in the size of fluorescent spots due to the fluorescently labelled antibodies observed using optical microscopy. The direct SE-ADM observation of cells should thus be effective in analyses of autophagosome formation.

'Liver-type' 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase cDNA encodes reductase but not dehydrogenase activity in intact mammalian COS-7 cells

1994 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
S C Low ◽  
K E Chapman ◽  
C R W Edwards ◽  
J R Seckl
Keyword(s):  
Dehydrogenase Activity ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Reductase Activity ◽  
Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Luciferase Expression ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Mmtv Ltr

ABSTRACT 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) catalyses the metabolism of corticosterone to inert 11-dehydrocorticosterone, thus preventing glucocorticoid access to otherwise non-selective renal mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs), producing aldosterone selectivity in vivo. At least two isoforms of 11β-HSD exist. One isoform (11β-HSD1) has been purified from rat liver and an encoding cDNA cloned from a rat liver library. Transfection of rat 11β-HSD1 cDNA into amphibian cells with a mineralocorticoid phenotype encodes 11 β-reductase activity (activation of inert 11-dehydrocorticosterone) suggesting that 11β-HSD1 does not have the necessary properties to protect renal MRs from exposure to glucocorticoids. This function is likely to reside in a second 11β-HSD isoform. 11β-HSD1 is co-localized with glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and may modulate glucocorticoid access to this receptor type. To examine the predominant direction of 11β-HSD1 activity in intact mammalian cells, and the possible role of 11β-HSD in regulating glucocorticoid access to GRs, we transfected rat 11β-HSD1 cDNA into a mammalian kidney-derived cell system (COS-7) which has little endogenous 11β-HSD activity or mRNA expression. Homogenates of COS-7 cells transfected with increasing amounts of 11β-HSD cDNA exhibited a dose-related increase in 11 β-dehydrogenase activity. In contrast, intact cells did not convert corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone over 24 h, but showed a clear dose-related 11β-reductase activity, apparent within 4 h of addition of 11-dehydrocorticosterone to the medium. To demonstrate that this reflected a change in functional intracellular glucocorticoids, COS-7 cells were co-transfected with an expression vector encoding GR and a glucocorticoid-inducible MMTV-LTR luciferase reporter construct, with or without 11β-HSD. Corticosterone induced MMTV-LTR luciferase expression in the presence or absence of 11β-HSD. 11-Dehydrocorticosterone was without activity in the absence of 11β-HSD, but induced MMTV-LTR luciferase activity in the presence of 11β-HSD. These results indicate that rat 11β-HSD1 can behave exclusively as a reductase in intact mammalian cells. Thus in some tissues in vivo, 11β-HSD1 may regulate ligand access to GRs by reactivating inert glucocorticoids.

Kinetics of mercuric reduction in intact and permeabilized Escherichia coli cells

1990 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 854-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
George P. Philippidis ◽  
Janet L. Schottel ◽  
Wei-Shou Hu
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Escherichia Coli Cells ◽  
Kinetics Of

scholarly journals In-depth Characterization of Firefly Luciferase as a Reporter of Circadian Gene Expression in Mammalian Cells

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 540-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin A. Feeney ◽  
Marrit Putker ◽  
Marco Brancaccio ◽  
John S. O’Neill
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Firefly Luciferase ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Circadian Gene ◽  
Cultured Fibroblasts ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Lower Temperature ◽  
Kinetics Of

Firefly luciferase (Fluc) is frequently used to report circadian gene expression rhythms in mammalian cells and tissues. During longitudinal assays it is generally assumed that enzymatic substrates are in saturating excess, such that total bioluminescence is directly proportional to Fluc protein level. To test this assumption, we compared the enzyme kinetics of purified luciferase with its activity in mammalian cells. We found that Fluc activity in solution has a lower Michaelis constant (Km) for luciferin, lower temperature dependence, and lower catalytic half-life than Fluc in cells. In consequence, extracellular luciferin concentration significantly affects the apparent circadian amplitude and phase of the widely used PER2::LUC reporter in cultured fibroblasts, but not in SCN, and we suggest that this arises from differences in plasma membrane luciferin transporter activity. We found that at very high concentrations (>1 mM), luciferin lengthens circadian period, in both fibroblasts and organotypic SCN slices. We conclude that the amplitude and phase of circadian gene expression inferred from bioluminescence recordings should be treated with some caution, and we suggest that optimal luciferin concentration should be determined empirically for each luciferase reporter and cell type.

scholarly journals Firefly luciferase gene: structure and expression in mammalian cells.

1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 725-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R de Wet ◽  
K V Wood ◽  
M DeLuca ◽  
D R Helinski ◽  
S Subramani
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Firefly Luciferase ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Expression Vectors ◽  
Luciferase Expression ◽  
Luciferase Gene ◽  
S1 Nuclease ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Mammalian Expression ◽  
Firefly Luciferase Gene

The nucleotide sequence of the luciferase gene from the firefly Photinus pyralis was determined from the analysis of cDNA and genomic clones. The gene contains six introns, all less than 60 bases in length. The 5' end of the luciferase mRNA was determined by both S1 nuclease analysis and primer extension. Although the luciferase cDNA clone lacked the six N-terminal codons of the open reading frame, we were able to reconstruct the equivalent of a full-length cDNA using the genomic clone as a source of the missing 5' sequence. The full-length, intronless luciferase gene was inserted into mammalian expression vectors and introduced into monkey (CV-1) cells in which enzymatically active firefly luciferase was transiently expressed. In addition, cell lines stably expressing firefly luciferase were isolated. Deleting a portion of the 5'-untranslated region of the luciferase gene removed an upstream initiation (AUG) codon and resulted in a twofold increase in the level of luciferase expression. The ability of the full-length luciferase gene to activate cryptic or enhancerless promoters was also greatly reduced or eliminated by this 5' deletion. Assaying the expression of luciferase provides a rapid and inexpensive method for monitoring promoter activity. Depending on the instrumentation employed to detect luciferase activity, we estimate this assay to be from 30- to 1,000-fold more sensitive than assaying chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression.

scholarly journals The NS3 protein of rice hoja blanca virus suppresses RNA silencing in mammalian cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 336-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Schnettler ◽  
Hans Hemmes ◽  
Rob Goldbach ◽  
Marcel Prins
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Firefly Luciferase ◽  
Hek293 Cells ◽  
Rnai Pathway ◽  
Luciferase Expression ◽  
Hairpin Rna ◽  
Rnai Suppressor ◽  
Ns3 Protein ◽  
Rnai Response

The NS3 protein of the tenuivirus rice hoja blanca virus (RHBV) has previously been shown to represent the viral RNA interference (RNAi) suppressor and is active in both plant and insect cells by binding short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in vitro. Using a firefly luciferase-based silencing assay it is described here that NS3 is also active in mammalian cells. This activity is independent of the inducer molecule used. Using either synthetic siRNAs or a short hairpin RNA construct, NS3 was able to significantly suppress the RNAi-mediated silencing of luciferase expression in both monkey (Vero) and human (HEK293) cells. These results support the proposed mode of action of NS3 to act by sequestering siRNAs, the key molecules of the RNAi pathway conserved in all eukaryotes. The possible applications of this protein in modulating RNAi and investigating the proposed antiviral RNAi response in mammalian cell systems are discussed.

Firefly luciferase gene: structure and expression in mammalian cells

1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 725-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R de Wet ◽  
K V Wood ◽  
M DeLuca ◽  
D R Helinski ◽  
S Subramani
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Firefly Luciferase ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Expression Vectors ◽  
Luciferase Expression ◽  
Luciferase Gene ◽  
S1 Nuclease ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Mammalian Expression ◽  
Firefly Luciferase Gene

The nucleotide sequence of the luciferase gene from the firefly Photinus pyralis was determined from the analysis of cDNA and genomic clones. The gene contains six introns, all less than 60 bases in length. The 5' end of the luciferase mRNA was determined by both S1 nuclease analysis and primer extension. Although the luciferase cDNA clone lacked the six N-terminal codons of the open reading frame, we were able to reconstruct the equivalent of a full-length cDNA using the genomic clone as a source of the missing 5' sequence. The full-length, intronless luciferase gene was inserted into mammalian expression vectors and introduced into monkey (CV-1) cells in which enzymatically active firefly luciferase was transiently expressed. In addition, cell lines stably expressing firefly luciferase were isolated. Deleting a portion of the 5'-untranslated region of the luciferase gene removed an upstream initiation (AUG) codon and resulted in a twofold increase in the level of luciferase expression. The ability of the full-length luciferase gene to activate cryptic or enhancerless promoters was also greatly reduced or eliminated by this 5' deletion. Assaying the expression of luciferase provides a rapid and inexpensive method for monitoring promoter activity. Depending on the instrumentation employed to detect luciferase activity, we estimate this assay to be from 30- to 1,000-fold more sensitive than assaying chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression.

Antagonism of the B subunit of DNA gyrase eliminates plasmids pBR322 and pMG110 from Escherichia coli

1982 ◽  
Vol 152 (1) ◽  
pp. 338-344
Author(s):  
J S Wolfson ◽  
D C Hooper ◽  
M N Swartz ◽  
G L McHugh
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Dna Gyrase ◽  
B Subunit ◽  
Plasmid Loss ◽  
Escherichia Coli Cells ◽  
Bacterial Mutant ◽  
Bacterial Enzyme ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Plasmid Elimination ◽  
Native Plasmid

The constructed plasmid pBR322 and the native plasmid pMG110 were eliminated (cured) from growing Escherichia coli cells by the antagonism of the B subunit of the bacterial enzyme DNA gyrase. The antagonism may be by the growth of cells (i) at semipermissive temperatures in a bacterial mutant containing a thermolabile gyrase B subunit or (ii) at semipermissive concentrations of coumermycin A1, an antibiotic that specifically inhibits the B subunit of DNA gyrase. The kinetics of plasmid elimination indicate that plasmid loss occurs too rapidly to be explained solely by the faster growth of that plasmid-free bacteria and, therefore, represents interference with plasmid maintenance.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document