title: Identification of the luciferin-luciferase system and quantification of coelenterazine by mass spectrometry in the deep-sea luminous ostracod Conchoecia pseudodiscophora.
abstract: The bioluminescence system of the ostracod Conchoecia pseudodiscophora, which is abundant in the Sea of Japan, has been characterized. The luminescence (lambda(max)=463 nm) is produced by a luciferin-luciferase reaction, and the luciferin has been identified as coelenterazine. Coelenterazine, coelenteramide, and coelenteramine from C. pseudodiscophora were quantified by LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. The coelenterazine content was estimated to be approximately 230 pg per animal by using a calibration curve of synthetic coelenterazine. The reaction between homogenates of C. pseudodiscophora and synthetic coelenterazine showed luminescence activity; this suggests that a coelenterazine-type luciferase is present.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oba
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuduki
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ojika
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inouye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea / Q000737:chemistry*; D049454:Firefly Luciferin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008156:Luciferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D011719:Pyrazines; C017144:coelenterazine; D049454:Firefly Luciferin; D008156:Luciferases