Issue 7, 2015

Rapid and scalable assembly of firefly luciferase substrates

Abstract

Bioluminescence imaging with luciferase–luciferin pairs is a popular method for visualizing biological processes in vivo. Unfortunately, most luciferins are difficult to access and remain prohibitively expensive for some imaging applications. Here we report cost-effective and efficient syntheses of D-luciferin and 6′-aminoluciferin, two widely used bioluminescent substrates. Our approach employs inexpensive anilines and Appel's salt to generate the luciferin cores in a single pot. Additionally, the syntheses are scalable and can provide multi-gram quantities of both substrates. The streamlined production and improved accessibility of luciferin reagents will bolster in vivo imaging efforts.

Graphical abstract: Rapid and scalable assembly of firefly luciferase substrates

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Dec 2014
Accepted
09 Dec 2014
First published
17 Dec 2014

Org. Biomol. Chem., 2015,13, 2117-2121

Author version available

Rapid and scalable assembly of firefly luciferase substrates

D. C. McCutcheon, W. B. Porterfield and J. A. Prescher, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2015, 13, 2117 DOI: 10.1039/C4OB02529F

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