Biosynthesis of Firefly Luciferin in Adult Lantern: Decarboxylation of ʟ-Cysteine is a Key Step for Benzothiazole Ring Formation in Firefly Luciferin Synthesis
Figure 1
Strategy to study on the biosynthetic pathway of firefly luciferin in an adult lantern of a living firefly by injecting the stable isotope-labeled compounds, and the bioluminescence reaction catalyzed by firefly/beetle luciferase.
A. Proposed biosynthetic pathway of firefly luciferin (I) from p-benzoquinone and two ʟ-cysteines in an adult lantern, and the luminescence reaction of luciferin with firefly luciferase, followed by the formation of 2-cyano-6-hydroxybenzothiazole (III) from oxyluciferin (II). B. Stable isotope-labeled ʟ-cysteines used in the experiments. Asterisk indicates the position of a 13C atom. C. Preparation of p-[D4]-benzoquinone from 1,4-[D6]-hydroquinone by the oxidation reaction using silver oxide with H2O2.