title: Intracellular synthesis of d-aminoluciferin for bioluminescence generation.
abstract: d-Luciferin is the most widely used substrate for bioluminescence (BL) applications but its low chemical stability always affects its performance. Herein, we rationally designed two chemically stable precursor molecules CBT-d-cystine-CBT (d-1) and CBT-l-cystine-CBT (l-1), and subjected them to reduction-controlled condensation to form 1-oligomer and subsequent proteolysis to yield d-aminoluciferin for BL generation in cells and in vivo. We envision that our precursor molecules might serve as d-luciferin alternatives for a wide range of BL applications in the near future.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China. gliang@ustc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China. gliang@ustc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Gongyu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China. gliang@ustc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chengfan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China. gliang@ustc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Miaomiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China. gliang@ustc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China. gliang@ustc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Gaolin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6159-9999
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003553:Cystine / Q000737:chemistry; D005978:Glutathione / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; C532924:D-luciferin; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C523775:aminobenzothiazole compound; D003553:Cystine; D005978:Glutathione