U.S. patent application number 12/561590 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-28 for method for detecting transferase enzymatic activity.
This patent application is currently assigned to PROMEGA CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Said A. Goueli, Richard Somberg.
Application Number | 20100021949 12/561590 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31978653 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100021949 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Somberg; Richard ; et
al. |
January 28, 2010 |
Method for Detecting Transferase Enzymatic Activity
Abstract
Methods and kits for detecting transferase activity in a sample
by measuring ATP using a composition comprising an ATP-dependent
bioluminescence-generating enzyme, a luminogenic molecule and one
or more transferase quenching agents.
Inventors: |
Somberg; Richard; (Madison,
WI) ; Goueli; Said A.; (Madison, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
One South Pinckney, Suite 700
Madison
WI
53703-4257
US
|
Assignee: |
PROMEGA CORPORATION
Madison
WI
|
Family ID: |
31978653 |
Appl. No.: |
12/561590 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10655878 |
Sep 5, 2003 |
|
|
|
12561590 |
|
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|
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60408662 |
Sep 6, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
435/15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C12Q 1/66 20130101; C12Q
1/485 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/15 |
International
Class: |
C12Q 1/48 20060101
C12Q001/48 |
Claims
1-26. (canceled)
27. A kit for measuring transferase enzymatic activity comprising:
(a) a reconstitution buffer solution comprising one or more
transferase quenching agents, wherein the transferase quenching
agent selectively stops transferase activity without substantially
affecting bioluminescent-generating enzyme activity; (b) a
composition comprising a luminogenic molecule and a
bioluminescence-generating enzyme; and (c) directions for using the
kit.
28. The kit of claim 27 wherein the transferase enzymatic activity
comprises kinase activity or ion channel/pump activity.
29. The kit of claim 28 wherein the transferase enzymatic activity
comprises protein kinase activity, protein lipid-dependent kinase
activity, polynucleotide kinase activity, or sugar kinase
activity.
30. The kit of claim 5 wherein the protein kinase comprises a
Ser/Thr protein kinase, a protein tyrosine kinase, or a protein
lipid-dependent kinase.
31. The kit of claim 30 wherein the Ser/Thr protein kinase
comprises cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), calcium and
phosphlipids dependent protein kinase (PKC), cGMP-dependent protein
kinase (PKG), calcium and calmodulin dependent protein kinase (CaM
KII) or a dual specificity protein kinase.
32. The kit of claim 31 wherein the dual specificity protein kinase
comprises mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) or mitogen
activated protein kinase kinase (MEK).
33. The kit of claim 30 wherein the tyrosine kinase comprises Rous
sarcoma related protein kinases (Src), or Src family protein
tyrosine kinases.
34. The kit of claim 33 wherein the Src family protein tyrosine
kinases comprise Src, Lck, Fyn, or Lyn.
35. The kit of claim 33 wherein the growth factor receptors
comprise epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), platelet derived
growth factor receptor (PDGFR) or steel growth factor receptor
(c-KIT).
36. The kit of claim 30 wherein the lipid dependent protein kinases
comprises Type I phosphoinositide 3-OH phosphotidylinositol kinase
(PI3K).
37. The kit of claim 26 wherein the transferase quenching agent
comprises a detergent.
38. The kit of claim 37 wherein the detergent comprises a cationic
detergent, anionic detergent, or zwitterionic detergent.
39. The kit of claim 38 wherein the cationic detergent comprises
dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide
and benzyldimethyldodecylammonium bromide.
40. The kit of claim 38 wherein the cationic detergent is
dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide.
41. The kit of claim 38 wherein the anionic detergent comprises SDS
and deoxycholate.
42. The kit of claim 38 wherein the zwitterionic detergent
comprises sulfobetaine 3-10.
43. The kit of claim 26 wherein the transferase quenching agent
comprises a metal chelating agent.
44. The kit of claim 43 wherein the transferase quenching agent
comprises EDTA or EGTA.
45. The kit of claim 26 wherein the transferase inhibitor comprises
staurosporine, or a peptide or protein inhibitor.
46. The kit of claim 26 wherein the luminogenic molecule comprises
D-luciferin or a luciferin derivative and the bioluminescent enzyme
comprises a luciferase.
47. The kit of claim 46 wherein the luciferase comprises a
thermostable luciferase.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional application claims the benefit of
priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/408,662, filed Sep.
6, 2002 entitled METHOD FOR DETECTING TRANSFERASE ENZYMATIC
ACTIVITY.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the fields of
enzymology and molecular biology. In particular, this invention
relates to methods, compositions and kits for improving the
detection and quantitation of transferase activity.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Advances in the biological, biomedical and pharmaceutical
sciences have accelerated the pace of research and diagnostics
unparalleled to the past. With whole genome sequences becoming
quickly and successively available, the assembly of large libraries
of small molecules, and the ability to move pharmaceutical
development, clinical diagnostic tests and basic research from a
reductionist to a whole system approach demands assays that
facilitate high throughput analyses. Molecules no longer need to be
singly analyzed for their effects on a lone process; instead, the
effects of many molecules on several biological systems can be
studied simultaneously--if appropriate, fast, reliable, and
accurate assays are available.
[0004] Due to their physiological relevance, variety and
ubiquitousness, transferases, especially kinases, have become one
of the most important and widely studied families of enzymes in
biochemical and medical research. Studies have shown that protein
and lipid kinases are key regulators of many cell functions,
including signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, cell
motility, cell division and cellular responses to drugs, toxins,
and pathogens.
[0005] Protein kinases play crucial roles in the modulation of a
wide variety of cellular events. These enzymes act by transferring
phosphate residues to certain amino acids in intracellular
polypeptides, to bring about the activation of these protein
substrates, and set in motion a cascade of activation controlling
events including the growth, differentiation and division of cells.
Protein kinases have been extensively studied in the field of
tumour biology. A lack of controlled activity of kinases in cells
is believed to lead to the formation of tumours. The pharmaceutical
industry is constantly in search of drugs that target these
kinases, to help with the treatment of a wide variety of tumours.
There are at least 1200 protein kinases that are involved in the
regulation of cell functions. They occur as both transmembrane and
cytosolic enzymes and they phosphorylate serine, threonine and
tyrosine amino acid residues. Based on these substrate
specificities the kinases are divided into two groups, the
serine/threonine kinases and tyrosine kinases.
[0006] Serine/threonine kinases, includes cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP
dependent protein kinases, calcium and phospholipid dependent
protein kinase, calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinases,
casein kinases, cell division cycle protein kinases and others.
These kinases are usually cytoplasmic or associated with the
particulate fractions of cells, possibly by anchoring proteins.
[0007] Tyrosine kinases phosphorylate tyrosine residues. These
particular kinases are present in much smaller quantities but play
an equally important role in cell regulation. These kinases include
several soluble enzymes such as src family of protein kinases, and
receptors for growth factors such as epidermal growth factor
receptor, insulin receptor, and platelet derived growth factor
receptor and others. Studies have indicated that many tyrosine
kinases are transmembrane proteins with their receptor domains
located on the outside of the cell and their kinase domains on the
inside.
[0008] Lipid kinases also play important roles in the intracellular
signal transduction, and have been grouped into four major classes.
Exemplary lipid kinases include P13 kinases, and
phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases.
[0009] Current types of assays used to measure kinase activity and
to detect potential kinase inhibitors are cumbersome and costly.
These assays include Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
assays, Fluorescent Plarization (FP) assays, and assays based on
radioactivity such as Scintillation Proximity Assay (SPA).
[0010] FRET assays used to detect kinase activity utilize a protein
substrate that has two linked fluorescent molecules. The two
molecules are in close proximity, separated by a fixed distance.
The energy of an excited electron in one molecule (the donor) is
passed to an adjacent molecule (the acceptor) through resonance.
The ability of a higher energy donor fluorophore to transfer energy
directly to a lower energy acceptor molecule causes sensitized
fluorescence of the acceptor molecule and simultaneously quenches
the donor flouorescence. In this case, the fluorescence of the
donor is "quenched" by the proximity to the acceptor and the energy
of the donor is transferred to the acceptor in a non-radiative
manner. The efficiency of energy transfer is dependent on the
distance between the donor and acceptor chromophores according to
the Forster equation. In most cases, no FRET is observed at
distances greater than 100 angstroms and thus the presence of FRET
is a good indicator of close proximity.
[0011] In order for FRET to be useful, the fluorescence of the
acceptor molecule must be significantly different from the
fluorescence of the donor. A useful FRET based protein substrate
may include a separation of the two fluorescent molecules via a
peptide linker that maintains specificity for an endopeptidase that
is capable of cleaving the peptide linker between the two
fluorophores. If the peptide is phosphorylated, then the enzyme may
not cleave the protein or may cleave it at a reduced rate, keeping
the fluorescent molecules in close proximity such that quenching
occurs. On the other hand, if the protein is not phosphorylated,
then the endopeptidase cleaves the protein substrate, releasing the
two fluorescent molecules such that the quenching is alleviated,
and the two fluorescent molecules fluoresce independently. The FRET
assay requires peptide substrates that must be carefully engineered
to meet these requirements. That is, the peptide substrates must
contain the enzyme recognition site required for the endopeptidase,
the distance between the two fluorophores must be within the range
to allow FRET to occur and the fluorescent molecules must be paired
in such a way that donor fluorescence is significantly quenched,
minimizing background fluorescence from the donor. Furthermore, the
fluorescence of the starting material (the "quenched" substrate)
must be siginificantly different from the product (the "released"
non-quenched product). These requirements make a FRET based assay
cumbersome and costly.
[0012] FP assays are based on binding of a high affinity binding
reagent, such as an antibody, a chelating atom, or the like, to a
fluorescent labeled molecule. For example, an antibody that binds
to a phosphorylated fluorescent labeled peptide but not a
non-phosphorylated fluorescent labeled peptide can be used for a
kinase assay. When the fluorescent label is excited with plane
polarized light, it emits light in the same polarized plane as long
as the fluorescent label remains stationary throughout the excited
state (duration of the excited state varies with fluorophore, and
is 4 nanoseconds for fluoroscein). However, if the excited
fluorescent label rotates or tumbles out of the plane of
polarization during the excited state, then light is emitted in a
different plane from that of the initial excitation state. If
polarized light is used to excite the fluorophore, the emission
light intensity can be monitored in both the plane parallel to the
plane of polarization (the excitation plane) and in the plane
perpendicular to the plane of polarization. The degree to which the
emission intensity moves from the parallel to the perpendicular
plane is related to the mobility of the fluorescent labeled
molecule. If the fluorescent labeled molecules are large, such as
when they are bound to the binding reagent, the fluorescent labeled
molecules move little during the excited state interval, and
emitted light remains highly polarized with respect to the
excitation plane. If the fluorescent labeled molecules are small,
such as when no binding reagent is bound to the fluorescent labeled
molecules, the fluorescent labeled molecules rotate or tumble
faster, and the resulting emitted light is depolarized relative to
the excitation plane. Thus, an FP assay requires a high affinity
binding reagent, e.g., an antibody, capable of binding with high
specifity to the fluorescent labeled molecule. The time consuming
and costly optimization of antibody binding with specific
fluorescent labeled molecules such as peptides is required where
antibodies are used. Additionally, the FP assay there is the
potential for phosphorylated protein and other reaction components,
e.g., lipids and detergents, to interfere with the
polarization.
[0013] Kinase assays that use radioactive labels include SPA. In
SPA, modified ligand-specific or ligand-capturing molecules are
coupled to fluoromicrospheres, which are solid-phase support
particles or beads impregnated with substances that emit energy
when excited by radioactively labeled molecules. When added to a
modified ligand such as radio-labeled phosphopeptide in a mixture
with nonphosphorylated peptide, only the phosphopeptide is captured
on a fluoromicrosphere, bringing any bound radiolabeled peptide
close enough to allow the radiation energy emitted to activate the
fluoromicrosphere and emit light energy. If the concentration of
fluoromicrospheres is optimized, only the signal from the
radio-labeled ligand bound to the target is detected, eliminating
the need for any separation of bound and free ligand. The level of
light energy emitted may be measured in a liquid scintillation
counter and is indicative of the extent to which the ligand is
bound to the target. However, a SPA requires radio-labeled ligands,
which have disposal costs and possible health risks. In addition, a
SPA requires the fluoromicrospheres to settle by gravity or be
centrifuged, adding an additional step and time to the assay.
[0014] Other methods have been developed for detecting kinase
activity that are based on luminescence detection, either by
bioluminesce or chemiluminescences. Generally, these methods rely
on specific substrates and antibodies (Lehel et al. (1977), the use
of microchips and fluorescent label probes (Cohen et al. (1999),
substrate concentration in a sample (Eu et al (1999), the use of
multiple steps and reagents (Crouch et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,711)
or are limited to specific kinases (Sala-Newby et al. (1992).
[0015] With phosphorylation events involved in so many cell
functions and diseases, identifying transferase activity,
especially kinase activity, is tremendously important. Thus, there
is a need for enzyme assays that detect protein kinase activity,
but that do not require large amounts of costly or highly
specialized starting materials, that quickly generate results and
are amendable to high through put screening. Additionally, there is
a need for assays to rapidly identify activators and inhibitors of
kinases. In addition, it is also desirable to provide kits for
carrying out such assays. The method, system and kit associated
with the present invention may be used for high throughput systems
to allow the rapid detection and analysis of effectors, modulators,
enhancers and inhibitors of one or more kinase. Moreover, the
present invention allows the screening to be completed without the
need for specially labeled substrates or antibodies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The invention is drawn to methods, compositions and kits
that are used for detection of transferase activity in a sample.
The methods described herein are homogeneous, fast, sensitive,
simple, and non-radioactive. The methods are convenient and can be
used with any instrumentation platform. Reagents required can be
designed with relative ease and may be synthesized readily. The
methods provide assays with fast development time and low cost.
[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, a method for detecting
kinase activity of a sample is provided. In a preferred embodiment,
the sample is contacted with a kinase substrate, and at least one
of a phosphate group donor (specifically ATP) and a phosphate group
acceptor substrate or the enzyme itself (autophosphorylation) to
form a reaction mixture. Kinase activity or the effect of a
compound on kinase activity in a sample would result in a decrease
or increase in the ATP levels in the sample. Thereafter, a
luminescent reporter with contacted with the reaction mixture. ATP
interacts with a luminescent reporter compound and produces a
luminescence signal that is directly proportional to the amount of
ATP present. The luminescence output of the reporter compound is
then detected, typically reported as Relative Light Units ("RLU").
An advantage of the present invention is that the kinase activity
detection methods can be performed in a single well in a multi-well
plate, making them suitable for use as high throughput screening
methods. The method of the present invention may be optimized by
altering the amounts of ATP and kinase substrate. In addition,
increasing the reaction temperature may improve kinase
activity.
[0018] The method of the present invention can be utilized to
detect kinase activity over a wide range of ATP concentrations,
generally from about 1 to about 100 .mu.M of ATP. The method of
present invention may be used to detect kinase activity at low
concentration levels of ATP, generally below 5 .mu.M of ATP, more
preferably in the range of about 1 to about 3 .mu.M of ATP.
[0019] In another embodiment of the invention, the method of
detecting kinase activity comprises contacting a sample with a
kinase substrate, at least one of a phosphate group donor
(specifically ATP) and a phosphate group acceptor for a first
predetermined time period to allow for sufficient opportunity for
the kinase to interact with the kinase substrate. The resulting
kinase reaction mixture is then contacted with a composition
("reagent composition") for a second predetermined time period. The
reagent composition comprises a bioluminescence generating enzyme,
a luminogenic molecule and a transferase quenching agent.
Thereafter, the luminescence produced in the resulting reaction
mixture is then detected. The luminescence is produced by the
conversion of the luminogenic molecule into a luminescing compound
by bioluminescence generating enzyme such as luciferase. This
method can be used to measure a distinct end-point of a kinase
reaction. The reagent composition allows, in a single step, for the
simultaneous quenching or termination of transferase activity and
generation of a luminescent signal that is directly proportional to
the amount of ATP present.
[0020] The method is homogeneous and can be used for a wide variety
of transferases such as protein kinases and lipid kinases and
substrates such as amino acids, peptides, proteins (including
fusion proteins and other kinases), sugars and lipids. The regent
is robust and resulting luminescence is much less suspectible to
interference by library compounds than other luciferase-based ATP
detection reagents. In addition, the reagent composition
facilitates measurement of transferase activity in a single sample
over a long period of time as well as measurement of transferase
activity in many samples in a high throughput format over a long
period of time, thus eliminating the need for luminometers with
reagent injectors and allowing for batch-mode processing of
multiple samples.
[0021] In general, the methods comprise adding a composition
("reagent composition") comprising a bioluminesce generating enzyme
such as a luciferase (such as exemplified by, but not limited to,
SEQ ID NOs: 1-4), a luminogenic substrate such as luciferin or
luciferin derivative, and one or more transferase quenching agents
to a sample and detecting luminescence, wherein the activity of the
reagent composition has enhanced stability [i.e., the reagent
composition is capable of maintaining at least about 30%, more
preferably at least about 60% activity (as measured by luminescence
when the reagent composition is combined with the sample) for at
least one hour, even more preferably at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%,
99% or greater activity for at least one hour, still more
preferably for at least two hours and even more preferably for at
least four hours relative to the reagent composition's activity
when it is created, i.e., just after (0 to 10 minutes)], the
luciferase enzyme is combined with a transferase quenching agent,
and wherein the transferase quenching agent is present in the
reagent composition at a concentration sufficient to reduce
transferase activity endogenous to the sample by at least about
25%, more preferably at least about 30%, more preferably at least
about 40%, even more preferably 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or
99% or greater relative to the sample's transferase activity in the
absence of the transferase quenching agent. The reagent composition
may be admixed before use by adding a solution comprising one or
more transferase quenching agents to a lyophilized luciferase.
[0022] Loss of stability is defined as irreversible loss of
activity. The reagent composition loses stability over time and the
amount of activity lost varies depending on the particular
luciferase, transferase quenching agent and, when present, enzyme
stabilizing agent used. Preferably the stability of the reagent
composition is demonstrable in the temperature range of about
20.degree. C. to about 37.degree. C. Although the methods of the
invention may be used with a sample containing any amount of ATP,
it is preferable to use a sample containing a non-saturated amount
of ATP (i.e., a range where luminescence is linearly proportional
to the concentration of ATP).
[0023] The luminescence generated by a luciferase reaction is
typically detected with a luminometer although other detection
means may be used. The presence of light greater than background
level indicates the presence of ATP in the sample. The background
level of luminescence is typically measured in the same matrix in
which the sample exists, but in the absence of the sample. Suitable
control reactions are readily designed by one of skill in the art.
Preferred luciferases used in the compositions and methods of the
invention generate a stable signal, i.e., they yield enhanced
duration of luminescence in a luciferase reaction defined as less
than 50% loss of luminescence per hour relative to the luminescence
at the time the luciferase reaction was initiated. Preferred
luciferases of the invention allow for multiple analyses of a
sample over time or analysis of many samples over time, one hour
after the luciferase is combined with the transferase quenching
agent, more preferably two hours and most preferably four hours or
more. Optionally, the luciferases used in the compositions and
methods of the invention have enhanced thermostability
properties.
[0024] Quantifying the amount of emitted light also quantifies the
amount of ATP in a sample. Quantitation of ATP allows for
quantitation of transferase activity. Quantitative ATP values are
realized, for example, when the quantity of light emitted from a
test sample is compared to the quantity of light emitted from a
control sample or to a standard curve determined by using known
amounts of ATP and the same luciferase, substrate, and reaction
conditions (i.e. temperature, pH, etc.). It is understood that
quantification involves subtraction of background values.
Qualitative ATP values are realized when the luminescence emitted
from one sample is compared to the luminescence emitted from
another sample without a need to know the absolute amount of ATP
present in the samples, e.g., a comparison of samples in the
presence or absence of a test compound. Many such experiments can
readily be designed by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0025] Examples of transferase quenching agents include detergents,
preferably detergents with charged groups such as cationic
detergents [e.g., DTAB (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide), CTAB
(cetyltrimethylammonium) and BDDABr (benzyldimethyldodecylammonium
bromide)], anionic detergents (e.g., SDS and deoxycholate), and
zwitterionic detergents (e.g., sulfobetaine 3-10). To facilitate
the method, a substrate for the luciferase, such as luciferin, may
be included in the reagent composition. Other embodiments of the
reagent composition further comprise transferase inhibitors such as
NaF, vanadate and paranitrophenylphosphate. Still other embodiments
of the reagent composition further comprise a buffer and magnesium.
One of skill in the art knows that other cations, such as manganese
and calcium, may be suitable substitutes for magnesium.
[0026] The reaction composition may also comprise an enzyme
stabilizing agent. The enzyme stabilizing agent can be any compound
that stablizes the luciferase from degradation. Suitable enzyme
stabilizing agents include proteins (such as bovine serum albumin
or gelatin) or detergents (preferably non-ionic detergents, most
preferably THESIT). Additional examples of enzyme stabilizing
agents are described in U.S. Provisional application No.
60/447,334, filed Feb. 13, 2003, entitled IMPROVED LUCIFERASE-BASED
ASSAYS, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0027] Further, the present invention is useful for determining the
effect of small molecules (including organic and inorganic
molecules and synthetic and naturally occurring molecules) on
transferase activity, which in turn allows the assessment of
whether the small molecule may function as a pharmaceutical drug.
Thus, the invention is also directed to methods that determine the
effect of a compound on a first sample containing transferase
enzyme by contacting the first sample with a concentration of the
compound and then at a later time contacting the first sample with
the reagent composition of the invention, detecting and comparing
the amount of luminescence in the first sample to an amount of
luminescence in a second sample containing transferase. The second
sample may be contacted with a concentration of the compound that
is less than the concentration contacting the first sample with no
compound. A lesser amount of luminescence detected from the first
sample compared to the second sample may indicate that the compound
comprises an inhibitory agent. In this way, inhibitory reagents may
be discovered. Similarly, the invention is useful for discovering
enzyme activity enhancing reagents, i.e., compounds that enhance
transferase activity. Using the above example, a lesser amount of
luminescence detected from the second sample compared to the first
sample may indicate that the compound comprises a transferase
enhancement agent. The invention is useful for comparing the
effects of different compounds at the same concentration on
transferase activity. The invention is also useful for comparing
the effect of a compound on different types of transferases. One of
skill in the art may develop many other such assays for which the
invention is useful.
[0028] The invention also assembles the elements of the invention
into kits. Such kits are designed to detect and quantitate
transferase activity in a sample or determining the effects of
compounds on transferase activity. Kits can be multifunctional such
that more than one purpose can be realized. In one embodiment, a
kit that is used to detect transferase activity in a sample may
comprise lyophilized luciferase in one container, while another
container contains reconstitution buffer with one or more
transferase quenching agents. The transferase quenching agents may
be non-detergent transferase inhibitors or detergents, preferably
detergents with ionic groups including cationic detergents
(preferably DTAB or BDDABr), anionic detergents (preferably SDS or
deoxycholate) or zwitterionic detergents (preferably sulfobetaine
3-10) or a combination thereof.
[0029] The kit may also supply a luciferase substrate, such as
luciferin. The kit may also supply magnesium or other cations such
as manganese or calcium. To facilitate the use of control
experiments with known concentrations of ATP, such as in
embodiments of the kits that are used to quantify ATP in a sample,
a container that has ATP may also be supplied in such kits. The kit
may also supply a compound that quenches transferase activity in
the sample (e.g., NaF). The kit may also supply an enzyme
stabilizing agent, e.g., BSA or gelatin or THESIT. The kit may also
supply one or more transferase enzymes such as kinases, transferase
substrates and phosphate group donors (e.g., ATP) and optional
buffers to support the transferase reaction.
[0030] A preferred embodiment of the kit contains components which,
when combined, generate a reagent composition that (i) maintains at
least about 30% (preferably at least about 60%, even more
preferably at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%) activity for at least
about one hour (preferably at least two hours, more preferably four
hours), as detected by luminescence when the reagent composition is
combined with a sample, and relative to the reagent composition's
activity just after it is assembled (i.e., 0 to 10 minutes after
the component comprising luciferase is combined with the component
comprising a transferase quenching agent) and (ii) reduces at least
about 25% or at least about 30%, (preferably at least about 40%,
even more preferably at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%,
99% or any increment therein) of the transferase activity that is
endogenous to the sample relative to the sample's transferase
activity in the absence of the transferase quenching agent.
[0031] The component comprising a transferase quenching agent may
comprise more than one transferase quenching agent wherein they are
present in the reagent composition at a concentration such that
their combined effect reduces at least about 25% or at least about
30%, (preferably at least about 40%, even more preferably at least
about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99% or any increment therein)
of the transferase activity that is endogenous to the sample
relative to the sample's transferase activity in the absence of the
transferase quenching agent.
[0032] Most preferably the kit comprises a container comprising a
buffered detergent solution, said buffered detergent solution at a
pH in the range of about pH 6.0 to about pH 8.0, and said buffered
detergent solution comprising DTAB whose concentration in the
reagent composition is in the range of about 0.05% to about 2%
(w/v) and optionally comprising NaF whose concentration in the
reagent composition is in the range of about 1 mM to about 20 mM
and optionally comprising THESIT whose concentration in the reagent
composition is in the range of about 1% to about 5%. The kit
additionally comprises a separate container comprising lyophilized
luciferase, preferably a luciferase with the sequence of SEQ ID
Nos: 1, 2, 3, or 4, most preferably SEQ ID Nos: 2 or 4. Preferably
the luciferase, when combined with the buffered detergent solution
creating the reagent composition, is at a concentration of 1
.mu.g/ml or greater, more preferably at a concentration of 80
.mu.g/ml or greater. Preferably, the container comprising
lyophilized luciferase further comprises lyophilized luciferin.
Optionally, the kit further comprises instructions for use of the
kit for the purpose of measuring ATP.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates the results of a protein kinase C ("PKC")
titration study in a 96 Well Plate (n=2) according to the present
invention.
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates the results of Lck titration study in a
96 Well Plate (n=2) according to the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates the results of PKA titration study in a
96 Well Plate (n=8) according to the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates the results of a Staurosporine induced
inhibition study of PKA according to the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates the results of a cAMP-Dependent Protein
Kinase Peptide Inhibitor ("PKI") induced inhibition of PKA in a 96
well plate (n=4) according to the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 6 shows a Z' analysis of Protein Kinase Activity using
PKA in a 96 well plate (n=32) according to the present
invention.
[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates the results of a Protein Kinase
Inhibition Screening Study according to the present invention with
known inhibitors of PKA.
[0040] FIG. 8 illustrates the results of the signal stability of a
PKA assay according to the present invention as measured over
time.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] The present invention provides compositions with properties
of enhanced stability comprising a luciferase, a luciferase
substrate, and one or more transferase quenching agents. The
invention further provides methods using these novel compositions
to measure transferase activity in a sample by detecting ATP by
reducing the steps of inhibition of transferase and addition of
luciferase and substrate to a single step that is then followed by
detection of the resulting luminescence. Preferably the
luminescence resulting from the combination of a composition of the
invention with a sample has an extended duration, i.e., diminished
by less than about 50% per hour relative to the luminescence just
after the composition is combined with the sample. The process of
the invention significantly reduces the time and effort of
luciferase-mediated detection of transferase activity in a sample
by eliminating the need to separately inhibit transferase activity
before adding luciferase.
[0042] There are multiple variations of kinase detection methods
currently used, all of which act in a stepwise manner. Some such
methods inactivate the transferase activity endogenous to a sample
(e.g., by increasing sample pH), and then neutralize the
transferase quenching agent, thereby converting the environment of
the sample from one favoring transferase inhibition and unfavorable
to luciferase activity to one favorable to luciferase activity
prior to adding luciferase and measuring luminescence. Similar
methods exist in which the environment of the sample is converted
to one favoring luciferase activity at the same time that the
luciferase enzyme is added. There are no ATP detection systems that
provide a composition or method capable of inactivating endogenous
transferase activity and allowing for luciferase activity in the
same environmental milieu. And there are no ATP detection systems
that provide a composition or method capable of lysing cells or
extracting cellular ATP, inhibiting transferase activity endogenous
to a sample and allowing for luciferase activity in the same
environment. Therefore, current assays that use luminescence to
detect ATP are handicapped by the need for successive,
time-consuming steps.
[0043] In preferred embodiments, the present invention reduces to a
single step the manipulations needed for measuring kinase activity
in a sample, prior to luminescence measurement. In the single-step
method of the invention, all of the necessary components of the
ATP-dependent bioluminescence generating enzyme (e.g., luciferase),
such as the bioluminescence generating enzyme, luminogenic
substrate, and transferase quenching agent are comprised within a
reagent composition and are added to a sample at once. In some
embodiments, a component of the reagent composition is an enzyme
stabilizing agent.
A. DEFINITIONS
[0044] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in
the art to which this invention belongs. All cited patents and
publications are incorporated by reference in their entirety unless
otherwise noted.
[0045] The nomenclature recommendations of Demerec et al., 1966,
where these are relevant to genetics, are adapted herein. To
distinguish between genes (and related nucleic acids) and the
proteins that they encode, the abbreviations for genes are
indicated by italicized (or underlined) text while abbreviations
for the proteins start with a capital letter and are not
italicized. Thus, luc or Luc refers to the luciferase nucleotide
sequence that encodes luciferase polypeptide or Luc.
[0046] An "isolated" or "purified" luciferase is one that has been
identified and separated and/or recovered from a component of its
natural environment.
[0047] The term "sample" as used herein, is used in its broadest
sense. A sample is a composition suspected of transferase activity
that is analyzed using the invention. While often a sample is known
to contain or suspected of containing transferase activity,
optionally in a growth media, or a cell lysate, a sample may also
be a solid surface, (e.g., a swab, membrane, filter, particle),
suspected of containing transferase activity. It is contemplated
that for such a solid sample, an aqueous sample is made by adding
the solid to the reagent composition of the invention or to another
aqueous solution to which the reagent composition of the invention
is added.
[0048] The term "detection," as used herein, refers to
quantitatively or qualitatively determining the presence or absence
of a component within the sample.
[0049] "Percent (%) amino acid sequence identity" is defined as the
percentage of amino acid residues in one sequence that are
identical to, with, or against amino acid residues in a second
sequence in the region of overlap when the two sequences are
optimally aligned. To determine percent amino acid identity,
sequences are locally aligned and if necessary, gaps are introduced
to achieve the maximum percent sequence identity; conservative
substitutions are not counted when calculating sequence identity.
Amino acid sequence alignment procedures to determine percent
identity are well known to those of skill in the art. Publicly
available computer software such as BLAST software (NCBI at
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/) may be used to align peptide
sequences. Those skilled in the art can determine appropriate
algorithms and parameters for measuring alignment, including any
algorithms and parameters needed to achieve optimal alignment of
two amino acid sequences.
[0050] When amino acid sequences are aligned, the percent amino
acid sequence identity of a given amino acid sequence A to, with,
or against a given amino acid sequence B (which can alternatively
be phrased as a given amino acid sequence A that has or comprises a
certain percent amino acid sequence identity to, with, or against a
given amino acid sequence B) can be calculated as:
%.sub.amino acid sequence identity=(X/Y)100
where X is the number of amino acid residues scored as identical
matches in the optimal alignment of A and B by the sequence
alignment program or algorithm and Y is the total number of amino
acid positions aligned.
[0051] The term "luminescent", as used herein, includes
bio-luminescence (i.e light produced by a living organism),
chemi-luminescence (light produced when a chemical reaction
proceeds), and electrochemical-luminescence. When the enzyme
involved has evolved in an organism by natural selection for the
purpose of generating light, or the enzyme involved is a mutated
derivative of such an enzyme, the luminescent reactions are also
called "bioluminescent reactions" and the enzyme involved is also
called a "bioluminescent enzyme." Examples of bioluminescent
enzymes include, without limitation, firefly luciferase, Renilla
luciferase, Cypridina luciferase, Aequorin photoprotein, Obelin
photoprotein, and the like.
[0052] The term "luminogenic molecule" as used herein refers to a
molecule capable of creating light via a chemical or biochemical
reaction (e.g. luciferin, coelenterazine, or a functional analog
thereof). Generally, a luminogenic molecule is either a high energy
molecular species (e.g. a stabilized dioxetane), or it is
transformed into a high energy molecular species by a chemical
reaction. The chemical reaction is usually oxidation by oxygen,
superoxide, or peroxide. In each case, the energy within the
luminogenic molecule is released by the chemical reaction. Although
at least some of this energy is released as photons of light, the
energy can also be released in other forms, such as heat. The
luminogenic molecules that do not yield light disperse their energy
through alternative modes, often termed "dark pathways".
[0053] The term "luciferin derivative" as used herein refers to a
type of luminogenic molecule or compound having a substantial
structure of D-luciferin and is a luciferase substrate.
[0054] The term "transferase" as used herein refers to an enzyme
that catalyzes the transfer or removal of a chemical entity or
group such as a phosphate, acetyl, or methyl group from one
molecule to another.
[0055] The term "transferase quenching agent" refers to a molecule,
compound, or substance that is capable of substantially reducing or
stopping transferase enzyme activity in a sample by any mechanism
including, without limitation, direct or indirect inactivation,
inhibition, denaturation, or sequestering.
B. REAGENT COMPOSITION
[0056] The reagent composition of the present invention comprises
one or more transferase quenching agents, preferably a detergent,
and a non-endogenous ATP-dependent bioluminescence generating
enzyme, wherein the composition is capable of maintaining at least
about 30% enzymatic activity for at least about one hour,
preferably at least about 2 hours, more preferably at least about 4
hours, compared to its activity just after (0 to 10 minutes) the
enzyme is combined with the transferase quenching agent, and
wherein the one or more transferase quenching agents are present in
the composition at a concentration sufficient to collectively
reduce transferase activity endogenous to the sample by at least
about 25%, more preferably at least about 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%,
80%, 90%, 95% or 99% or any increment therein relative to the
transferase activity endogenous to the sample in the absence of the
transferase quenching agent. In preferred embodiments of the
invention, the non-endogenous ATP-dependent enzymes are
luciferases.
[0057] 1. Luciferases
[0058] Luciferase enzymes whose catalytic products include light,
offer sensitivity, a detectable product, and enable easy
measurement of ATP. However, any luminescence-producing enzyme that
is ATP-dependent may be used in the methods and compositions of the
present invention.
[0059] At their most basic level, luciferases are defined by their
ability to produce luminescence. More specifically, a luciferase is
an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of a substrate, luciferin,
thereby producing oxiluciferin and photons.
[0060] To date, five classes of luciferases have been identified
(Jones et al., 1999; Thomson et al., 1997). Of these, beetle
luciferases, such as that of the common firefly (family
Lampyridae), form a distinct class with unique evolutionary origins
(McElroy et al., 1969; White et al., 1969; White et al., 1975).
Beetle luciferases are often referred to as firefly luciferases in
the literature; however, firefly luciferases are actually a
subgroup of the beetle luciferase class. Beetle luciferases may be
purified from the lanterns of the beetles themselves or from
protein expression systems well known in the art (Baldwin and
Green, 2000; Beny and Dolivo, 1976; Branchini et al., 1980;
Filippova et al., 1989).
[0061] Beetle luciferases, particularly firefly luciferase from the
North American firefly Photinus pyralis, are well known in the art.
The P. pyralis luciferase (LucPpy) consists of approximately 550
amino acids of M.sub.r 61 kDa as calculated by the protein encoded
by the nucleotide sequence of the gene. However, other firefly
luciferases are desirable, such as Photuris pennsylvanica firely
luciferase (LucPpe2; 545 amino acid residues; GenBank 2190534, (Ye
et al., 1997)). Mutant luciferases derived from LucPpe2 (e.g.,
LucPpe2m78 (also known as 78-0B10), SEQ ID NO:1; LucPpe2m90 (also
known as 90-1B5), SEQ ID NO:2; LucPpe2m133 (also known as 133-1B2),
SEQ ID NO:3; LucPpe2m146 (also known as 146-1H2), SEQ ID NO:4 are
preferred; however, any luciferase that meets the limitations
setforth herein may be used in the composition, method and kits of
the invention. The method of making LucPpe2m78, LucPpe2m90,
LucPpe2m133, and LucPpe2m146 is disclosed in PCT/US99/30925.
[0062] Isolated and/or purified luciferases are typically used in
the present invention. Contaminant components of its natural
environment are materials that would typically interfere with
diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the luciferase, and may include
enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous
materials. One technique to ascertain purity is applying SDS-PAGE
analysis under non-reducing or reducing conditions using Coomassie
blue or silver stain. Isolated luciferase includes luciferase in
situ within recombinant cells, since at least one component of the
luciferase natural environment will not be present. Luciferases can
be isolated from biological specimens that produce luciferase or
from a cell that expresses an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a
desired luciferase (e.g., a nucleotide encoding 78-0B10, 90-1B5,
133-1B2, or 146-1H2 (SEQ ID NOs: 5-8, respectively)). Such
techniques are well known to those of skill in the art.
[0063] The naturally-occurring substrate for beetle luciferases is
firefly luciferin, a polytherocyclic organic acid,
D-(-)-2-(6'-hydroxy-2'-benzothiazolyl)-.DELTA..sup.2-thiazolin-4-carboxyl-
ic acid (luciferin). Luciferin may be isolated from nature (e.g.
from fireflies) or synthesized. Synthetic luciferin can have the
same structure as the naturally occurring luciferin or can be
derivatized, so long as it functions analogously (Bowie et al.,
1973; Branchini, 2000; Craig et al., 1991; Miska and Geiger, 1987;
Yang and Thomason, 1993). Examples of derivatives of luciferin
include D-luciferin methyl ester, D-luciferyl-L-phenylalanine,
D-luciferyl-L-N .alpha.-arginine, D-luciferin-O-sulphate and
D-luciferin-O-phosphate (Miska and Geiger, 1987), esters of
luciferases that are hydrolyzed or acted upon by esterases to
luciferin by components in a sample (Craig et al., 1991; Yang and
Thomason, 1993). Other examples of useful luciferin analogs include
naphthyl- and quinolylluciferin, which emit light in the green and
red light spectra respectively (Branchini et al., 1989). There are
multiple commercial sources for luciferin (e.g., Promega Corp.
Madison, Wis.; Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.).
[0064] The beetle luciferase-catalyzed reaction that yields
luminescence (the luciferase-luciferin reaction) involves firefly
luciferin, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), magnesium, and molecular
oxygen. In the initial reaction, the firefly luciferin and ATP
react to form luciferyl adenylate with the elimination of inorganic
pyrophosphate. The luciferyl adenylate remains tightly bound to the
catalytic site of luciferase. When this form of the enzyme is
exposed to molecular oxygen, the enzyme-bound luciferyl adenylate
is oxidized to yield oxyluciferin in an electronically excited
state. The excited oxidized luciferin emits light on returning to
the ground state:
##STR00001##
[0065] It is contemplated that the ATP function of the reaction can
be performed by an ATP analogue (e.g., dATP). It is also
contemplated that other ions can serve as substitutes for magnesium
ions (e.g., Mn.sup.2+ or Ca.sup.2+). Additionally, oxygen is a
reactant of the reaction. Therefore, the reaction should not be
conducted under anaerobic conditions. However, it is not generally
necessary in practicing the invention to provide oxygen over and
above that present in the air. Reactions can take place in closed
vessels, provided there is sufficient oxygen in the reaction
solution.
[0066] Most luciferase-luciferin reactions generate a flash of
light that is short lived. However, some of the luciferases
preferred for use with the invention, e.g., LucPpe2m146 and
LucPpe2m90 luciferases, under the conditions of the invention
generate a "glow-type" luminescent signal with less than 50% loss
of luminescence per hour after the reagent composition is combined
with the sample.
[0067] Any luciferase, luciferase variant, luciferase fragment, or
variant luciferase fragment that retains the ability to generate
luminescence when used in the reagent composition of the present
invention and does not prevent the reagent composition from meeting
the stability requirements of the present invention, can be used in
the present invention.
[0068] A full length luciferase variant will have at least about
80% amino acid sequence identity, preferably at least about 81%
amino acid sequence identity, more preferably at least about 82%,
83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%,
96%, 97%, 98% amino acid sequence identity and most preferably at
least about 99% amino acid sequence identity with a full-length
native sequence luciferase sequence and retain the ability to
generate luminescence. Ordinarily, variant luciferase fragments are
at least about 50 amino acids in length, often at least about 60
amino acids in length, more often at least about 70, 80, 90, 100,
150, 200, 300, 400, 500 or 550 amino acids in length, or more and
retain the ability to generate luminescence. A luciferase,
luciferase fragment, luciferase variant or variant luciferase
fragment may be fused to other non-luciferase amino acid sequences
and still be functional in the invention.
[0069] Full length beetle luciferase, fragments of beetle
luciferase, variants of beetle luciferase, and variant fragments of
beetle luciferase enzyme used in the compositions and methods of
the present invention may be purified from a native source or
prepared by a number of techniques, including (1) chemical
synthesis, (2) enzymatic (protease) digestion of luciferase, and
(3) recombinant DNA methods. Chemical synthesis methods are well
known in the art, as are methods that employ proteases to cleave
specific sites. To produce segments of luciferase protein, segments
of luciferase or luciferase variants can be made and then expressed
in a host organism, such as E. coli. Methods such as endonuclease
digestion or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allow one of skill in
the art to generate an unlimited supply of well-defined fragments.
Preferably, luciferase fragments share at least one biological
activity with native luciferase, as well as catalytic activity,
although the level of activity may vary from that of the native
luciferase.
[0070] Any type of amino acid substitution, insertion or deletion,
or combination thereof may be used to generate a variant
luciferase. However, a luciferase with a conservative amino acid
substitution is more likely to retain activity. Useful conservative
substitutions are shown in Table A "Preferred substitutions."
Conservative substitutions whereby an amino acid of one class is
replaced with another amino acid of the same type fall within the
scope of the invention if the substitution does not impair
luciferase activity.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE A Preferred substitutions Original Exemplary
Preferred residues substitutions substitutions Ala (A) Val, Leu,
Ile Val Arg (R) Lys, Gln, Asn Lys Asn (N) Gln, His, Lys, Arg Gln
Asp (D) Glu Glu Cys (C) Ser Ser Gln (Q) Asn Asn Glu (E) Asp Asp Gly
(G) Pro, Ala Ala His (H) Asn, Gln, Lys, Arg Arg Ile (I) Leu, Val,
Met, Ala, Phe, Norleucine Leu Leu (L) Norleucine, Ile, Val, Met,
Ala, Phe Ile Lys (K) Arg, Gln, Asn Arg Met (M) Leu, Phe, Ile Leu
Phe (F) Leu, Val, Ile, Ala, Tyr Leu Pro (P) Ala Ala Ser (S) Thr Thr
Thr (T) Ser Ser Trp (W) Tyr, Phe Tyr Tyr (Y) Trp, Phe, Thr, Ser Phe
Val (V) Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Ala, Norleucine Leu
[0071] Non-conservative substitutions that effect (1) the structure
of the polypeptide backbone, such as a .beta.-sheet or
.alpha.-helical conformation, (2) the charge or (3) hydrophobicity,
or (4) the bulk of the side chain of the target site might modify
luciferase function. Residues are divided into groups based on
common side-chain properties as denoted in Table B.
Non-conservative substitutions entail exchanging a member of one of
these classes for another class.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE B Amino acid classes Class Amino acids
Hydrophobic Norleucine, Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile neutral hydrophilic
Cys, Ser, Thr Acidic Asp, Glu Basic Asn, Gln, His, Lys, Arg Disrupt
chain conformation Gly, Pro Aromatic Trp, Tyr, Phe
[0072] Variant luciferase genes or gene fragments can be made using
methods known in the art such as oligonucleotide-mediated
(site-directed) mutagenesis, alanine scanning, and PCR mutagenesis.
Site-directed mutagenesis (Carter, 1986; Zoller and Smith, 1987),
cassette mutagenesis, restriction selection mutagenesis (Wells et
al., 1985) or other known techniques can be performed on the cloned
DNA to produce the luciferase variant DNA (Ausubel et al., 1987;
Sambrook, 1989).
[0073] 2. Preferred Luciferases
[0074] Preferred luciferases of the invention possess catalytic
activity that depends on ATP and emits photons. Preferred
luciferases of the invention have enhanced chemostability in the
presence of transferase quenching agents relative to the level of
the P. pyralis luciferase (LucPpy) chemostability in the same
reaction conditions. Preferred luciferases used in the compositions
and methods of the invention generate a stable signal, i.e., they
yield enhanced duration of luminescence in a luciferase reaction
defined as less than 50% loss of luminescence per hour relative to
the luminescence at the time the luciferase reaction was initiated.
Preferred luciferases of the invention allow for multiple analyses
of a sample over time or analysis of many samples over time, one
hour after the luciferase is combined with the transferase
quenching agent, more preferably two hours and most preferably four
hours or more. Optionally, the luciferases used in the compositions
and methods of the invention have enhanced thermostability
properties. An exemplified preferred luciferase is LucPpe2m146 (SEQ
ID NO:4). Additional examples of enzymes useful in the invention
include, but are not limited to, LucPpe2m78 (SEQ ID NO:1),
LucPpe2m90 (SEQ ID NO:2), and LucPpe2m133 (SEQ ID NO:3).
[0075] The exemplified luciferases, LucPpe2m78 (SEQ ID NO:1),
LucPpe2m90 (SEQ ID NO:2), LucPpe2m133 (SEQ ID NO:3) and LucPpe2m146
(SEQ ID NO:4) were generated from a mutant of P. pennsylvanica
(T249M). The nucleic acid sequence encoding this protein was
subjected to mutagenic methods including recursive mutagenesis
followed by screens for thermostability, signal stability, and
substrate binding and is fully described by Wood and Hall (WO
9914336, 1999).
[0076] Chemostability
[0077] "Chemostable luciferases" as used herein, defines
luciferases that retain activity in the presence of compounds or
conditions when those compounds or conditions typically inhibit
transferases and disrupt the function of non-chemostable
luciferases such as LucPpy. The above identified exemplary
luciferases [(LucPpe2m78 (SEQ ID NO:1), LucPpe2m90 (SEQ ID NO:2),
LucPpe2m133 (SEQ ID NO:3) and LucPpe2m146 (SEQ ID NO:4)] were found
herein to have enhanced chemostability to transferase quenching
agents.
[0078] Thus, preferred luciferases include those which maintain at
least about 30% (preferably at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%,
99%) enzymatic activity as measured by luminescence at least one
hour (preferably at least two hours, more preferably at least four
hours) after contact with an amount of transferase quenching agent,
preferably a detergent, e.g., cationic detergent (preferably DTAB
or BDDABr), anionic detergent (preferably deoxycholate or SDS) or
zwitterionic detergent (preferably sulfobetaine 3-10) or
combination thereof sufficient to collectively reduce transferase
activity endogenous to a sample by at least about 25% (preferably
at least about 30%, even more preferably at least about 40%, 50%,
60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99% or any increment therein) relative to
the sample's transferase activity in the absence of the transferase
quenching agent.
[0079] The chemostability of an enzyme also may be indicated by the
rate of decline of its activity over time. For example, shortly (0
to 10 minutes) after mixing the transferase quenching agent and the
luciferase, thereby creating the reagent composition, at several
subsequent timepoints an aliquot of the reagent composition is
added to a sample and relative light unit (rlu) measurements are
obtained shortly thereafter. These measurements may be graphed to
determine a trend of decline in enzyme activity in the reagent
composition over time.
[0080] The preferred chemostable luciferases (e.g., Ppe2m78,
Ppe2m90, Ppe2m133, and Ppe2m146) also retain activity in
multi-detergent solutions. Specifically, solutions containing
0.01%, preferably 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%,
0.8%, 0.9%, most preferably 0.25% CHAPS
(3-([3-Cholamidopropyl]dimethylammonio)-1-propanesulfonate) with at
least 0.01%, preferably 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and most preferably 0.3%
or 1.0% BDDABr, taurocholic or taurolithocholic acids, or DTAB, or
0.01%, preferably 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%,
0.8%, 0.9%, most preferably 1.0% of taurocholic or taurolithocholic
acids with at least 0.01%, preferably 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and most
preferably 0.3% or 1.0% BDDABr, DTAB, or CHAPS. Other
multi-detergent solutions in which LucPpe2m78, LucPpe2m90,
LucPpe2m133 and LucPpe2m146 retain activity include 0.01%,
preferably 0.05%, most preferably 0.1% TRITON X-100 with at least
0.01%, preferably 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5%, most preferably 1.0%
BDDABr, DTAB, or CHAPS; or 0.01%, preferably 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%,
0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, most preferably 1.0% of
taurocholic or taurolithocholic acids with at least 0.01%,
preferably 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2% and most preferably 0.3 or 1.0%
BDDABr, DTAB, or CHAPS; or 0.05%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 4.0%, preferably 2%
polyethylene glycol 400 dodecyl ether (THESIT), with at least
0.05%, preferably 0.1%, 0.2% and most preferably 0.3% or 1.0%
BDDABr, DTAB, or CHAPS.
[0081] Thermostability
[0082] In some embodiments, a thermostable luciferase that produces
luminescence or other thermostable ATP-dependent enzyme that
produces a detectable signal is desirable, especially in samples
that are treated with heat immediately prior to ATP detection. A
thermostable polypeptide remains active at temperatures that
inactivate or denature other proteins. The LucPpe2m78, LucPpe2m90,
LucPpe2m133 and LucPpe2m146 enzymes display increased
thermostability compared to luciferases found in nature or encoded
from polynucleotides isolated from nature.
[0083] Signal Stability
[0084] Preferred luciferases used in the compositions and methods
of the invention generate a stable signal, i.e., such luciferases,
when used in a luciferase reaction, yield luminescence with
enhanced duration defined as less than 50% loss of luminescence per
hour relative to the luminescence at the time the luciferase
reaction was initiated. This property is referred to as signal
stability. Preferred luciferases of the invention allow for
multiple analyses of a sample over time or analysis of many samples
over time, at least one hour after the luciferase is combined with
the transferase quenching agent, more preferably at least two hours
and most preferably at least four hours or more. The combination of
a luciferase and a transferase quenching agent in the reagent
composition, wherein the luciferase is capable of producing
luminescence with enhanced duration while in the presence of a
transferase quenching agent (and, optionally, kinase inhibitors)
that stabilizes the amount of ATP present in the sample results in
a reliable and efficient method for detecting and quantifying ATP
for extended periods of time.
[0085] 3. Other Desirable Luciferases
[0086] Any luciferase, luciferase fragment, or variants thereof
that, in an ATP-dependent manner, emits photons upon oxidation of a
substrate and is chemostable, i.e., retains activity in the
presence of the transferase quenching agents of the invention, may
be used in the present invention. Other desirable characteristics,
although not obligatory, such as thermostability and signal
stability, are contemplated. In addition, the luciferase may be
fused to another amino acid sequence and still be functional in the
present invention. Such enzymes may be synthesized in vitro or
isolated from other organisms.
[0087] Other luciferases are found in bacteria, unicellular algae,
coelenterates, beetles (other than P. pennsylvanica), fishes, and
other organisms. Chemically, all luciferases involve exergonic
reactions of molecular oxygen with different luciferins, resulting
in photon production (Hastings, 1996; Hastings and Wilson, 1976;
Wilson and Hastings, 1998; Wood et al., 1989). Preferably, other
luciferases should be dependent on ATP for oxidation of luciferin,
or the reaction conditions manipulated such that bioluminescence
generation depends on ATP. One of skill in the art can ascertain
ATP dependence for the luciferase-luciferin reaction.
[0088] The use of a luciferase other than that from beetles
requires an appropriate luciferin molecule that upon oxidation
generates a chemically and electrically unstable intermediate or a
detectable enzymatic product. Other substrates may be used, as well
as other ATP-dependent enzymes that produce a detectable enzymatic
product. Detectable products include photons, radioactively-labeled
products, insoluble or soluble chromogens, or other products that
can be detected visually or through the use of devices.
C. KITS
[0089] When the invention is supplied as a kit, the different
components of the composition may be packaged in separate
containers and admixed prior to use. Such separate packaging of the
components permits long-term storage without loss of
luciferase-luciferin activity. However, when the various parts of
the kit are admixed, thereby forming the "reagent composition", the
reagent composition comprises a luciferase, such as exemplified by,
but not limited to, SEQ ID NOs:1-4, and one or more transferase
quenching agents wherein the activity of the reagent composition
has enhanced stability [i.e., the reagent composition is capable of
maintaining at least about 30%, more preferably at least about 60%
activity for at least one hour, even more preferably at least 70%,
80%, 90%, 95%, 99% or greater activity for at least one hour, still
more preferably for at least two hours and even more preferably for
at least four hours (as measured by luminescence when the reagent
composition is combined with a sample) relative to the reagent
composition's activity when it is first created, i.e. 0 to 10
minutes after the luciferase enzyme is first combined with a
transferase quenching agent], and wherein the transferase quenching
agent is present in the reagent composition at a concentration
sufficient to reduce transferase activity endogenous to a sample by
at least about 25%, more preferably at least about 30%, even more
preferably at least about 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99%
or greater relative to the transferase activity in the absence of
the transferase quenching agent. Instructional materials may also
be enclosed in the kit, as well as materials that may act as
standards or controls, depending on the purpose of the kit.
[0090] 1. The Reagent Composition
[0091] In a preferred embodiment, the components of the reagent
composition of the invention can be supplied as two parts that are
admixed shortly before use: (1) a part comprising luciferase and
(2) a part comprising one or more transferase quenching agents. An
example of such an embodiment is represented in Table C and others
are represented in the Examples. The luciferase component may
further comprise luciferin and preferably is lyophilized. The
luciferase component optionally comprises excipients for
lyophilization, protein (luciferase) stabilizer, magnesium (or
alternative cation), and a magnesium chelator (or alternative
cation chelator). The transferase quenching agent component may
further comprise a buffer, divalent cation metal chelators,
magnesium (or alternative cation), a defoaming agent, and an enzyme
stabilizer (e.g., THESIT). The different components of the
invention may comprise subsets of these parts and may be combined
in any way that either facilitates the application of the invention
or prolongs storage life.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE C Preferred components of a kit Component
Action Preferred embodiments luciferase\ Catalyzes luciferase-
Ppe2m90 or Ppe2m146 luciferin luciferin reaction in luciferase one
step Substrate Luciferin Lyophilization excipient Highly purified
porcine dermal and protein stabilizer collagen (Prionex) Enzyme
cofactor MgSO.sub.4 Chelates Mg after ATP
1,2-Cyclohexanediaminetetra- removal acetic acid (CDTA) Transferase
Buffer Citrate buffer quenching Potassium Phosphate buffer agent/
Buffer 2-(N-Morpholino)ethanesulfonic buffer acid (MES) Chelates
divalent metal Ethylenediaminetetraacetic cations (EDTA) Defoamer
MAZU DF204 transferase quenching DTAB agent Transferase quenching
NaF agent Non-ionic detergent THESIT, enzyme stabilizer
Polyoxyethylene(9)-lauryl-ether
[0092] 2. Luciferase-Luciferin Component
[0093] All luciferases, luciferase variants, luciferase fragments
and variant luciferase fragments that catalyze an ATP-dependent
reaction and generate luminescence are contemplated for use in the
invention. Some embodiments eliminate the luciferin; for example,
allowing a user to supply a luciferin of his/her choice, or the
luciferin may be provided separately. The type of luciferin
provided may vary but it must be a substrate for the type of
luciferase provided.
[0094] In one embodiment, a kit supplies the luciferase as an
anhydrous preparation. Anhydrous preparations of luciferase may be
lyophilized, in which water is removed under vacuum, freeze-dried,
crystallized, or any other method that removes water that does not
inactivate luciferase. Excipients that bulk the preparation and
stabilize luciferase, such as serum albumins or Prionex, may also
be included. In other embodiments, luciferase may be suspended in
an aqueous composition comprising glycerol or other solvent in
which the enzyme is stable. The skilled artisan can easily
determine the amounts of the various constituents that work in the
compositions and methods of the invention.
[0095] 3. Transferase Quenching Agent Component
[0096] In a preferred embodiment, the kit comprises a component
containing one or more transferase quenching agents within a
solution optionally containing other functional components, such as
buffers, defoamers, enzyme stabilizers, and the like. This
component may be supplied as a working solution or as a
concentrate. The transferase quenching agent may be any of those
described herein above. This component may further comprise agents
that chelate metal ions that may interfere with the
luciferase-luciferin reaction (e.g. EDTA, EGTA), magnesium
(preferably supplied as a salt, such as sulfate or chloride; or
other functionally equivalent cation), defoaming agents, and
inhibitors of ATP generating enzyme (e.g. NaF). Buffers that
maintain pH of the working solution, e.g. citrate or MES (which may
be supplied as a salt, such as sodium or free acid or base) or any
other appropriate buffer may be used.
Transferase Quenching Agent
[0097] One aspect of the invention is a transferase quenching
agent, preferably a detergent that inhibits transferases, more
preferably a detergent with a charged group, e.g., cationic
detergent (preferably DTAB or BDDABr), anionic detergent
(preferably deoxycholate or SDS) or zwitterionic detergent
(preferably sulfobetaine 3-10). Such inhibitors prevent
transferases endogenous to the sample from processing ATP to
adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP)
before the luciferase is allowed to utilize the ATP in the sample
for the luciferase-luciferin reaction. Transferase quenching agents
may inactivate transferases directly or indirectly. They may bind
to transferases, either in the active sites, thus preventing
substrate binding, or denature transferases, such as by denaturing
detergents, or they may selectively sequester transferases from
their substrates.
[0098] One embodiment of the present invention uses cationic
detergents such as DTAB or BDDABr detergents that act as
transferase quenching agents. However, other transferase quenching
agents are contemplated, such as other cationic detergents, anionic
detergents (e.g., SDS and deoxycholate) and zwitterionic detergents
(e.g., sulfobetaine 3-10).
[0099] For DTAB or BDDABr the concentration in the reagent
composition is preferably in the range of about 0.02% to about
5.0%, more preferably about 0.05%, still more preferably about
0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1.0%, 1.1%,
1.2%, 1.3%, 1.4% and 1.5% and most preferably to a final
concentration of about 1.0% in the reagent composition.
[0100] Other non-cationic detergent transferase quenching agents
are contemplated for inclusion in the reagent composition; their
requirements are that they, like DTAB, preferably inhibit at least
about 25%, more preferably at least about 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%,
80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, more
preferably at least about 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%,
99% and most preferably about 100% of endogenous transferase
activity in a sample when present in a reagent composition wherein
the reagent composition is capable of maintaining at least 30%,
40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%,
89%, 90%, more preferably at least about 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%,
96%, 97%, 98%, 99% and most preferably about 100% activity, as
measured by luminescence after the reagent composition is combined
with the sample, for at least one hour, more preferably at least 2
hours compared to the reagent composition's activity just after the
luciferase is combined with the transferase quenching agent.
Potentially suitable non-cationic detergents that function as
transferase quenching agents include anionic detergents (preferably
SDS and deoxycholate), zwitterionic detergents (preferably
sulfobetain 3-10). The concentration of a particular transferase
quenching agent will vary depending on the inhibitor used, and to
some extent, the sample being analyzed. One of skill in the art is
familiar with methods to determine the appropriate concentration of
a transferase quenching agent for inclusion in the reagent
composition; for example, they may examine luciferin-luciferase
derived signals over time, comparing those samples that have
varying concentrations of a candidate transferase quenching agent
to those samples containing no known transferase quenching
agents.
[0101] Transferase quenching agents also include non-detergent
inhibitors of transferase activity which may be used alone or in
combination with detergents. An example of an effective inhibitor
is NaF (Bostick et al., 1982). Such compositions comprise NaF at
concentrations of at least 0.5 mM, preferably at least 1 mM, more
preferably at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80,
85, 90, 953, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95,
100 mM or any increment therein; 2 mM is most preferred. Other
inhibitors of ATP-generating enzymes include other kinase
inhibitors, such as vanadate, AMP, DAPP (Bostick et al., 1982),
dichloroacetic acid (Kiechle et al., 1980), staurosporine, UCN-01,
and calphostin C (Tamaoki 1991). Generally, any suitable
non-detergent inhibitor may be used as a transferase quenching
agent and at any suitable concentration so long as it does not
adversely affect luciferase so as to take it outside the utility of
the invention. One of skill in the art will know how to determine
the appropriate concentration of such an inhibitor, whether the
inhibitor is novel or well-known.
[0102] It is fully anticipated that the most preferred
concentration and even the concentration range for the transferase
quenching agent functional in the methods of the invention will
vary for different agents. For example, SDS detergent
concentrations functional in the methods of the invention are about
0.002%. See, for instance, Examples 2 and 3, in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/813,279, filed Mar. 9, 2001, entitled
METHOD FOR DETECTION OF ATP, published as US 20030104507A1, which
is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The functional
concentration range for a detergent and/or non-detergent inhibitor
used in the present invention may readily be determined by one of
skill in the art using the methods disclosed herein.
[0103] It is contemplated that some transferase quenching agents,
at some of the concentrations useful in the invention, may be
insoluble or have low solubility in aqueous solutions. These
compounds may first be dissolved in an organic solution (e.g.,
dimethyl sulfoxide or dimethylformamide) and then diluted into the
reagent composition for use in the composition and methods of the
invention.
[0104] Buffers
[0105] Any buffers that maintain suitable pH for the working
solution and do not interfere with the luciferase-luciferin
reaction are contemplated. The preferred pH range is between about
pH 4.5 and about pH 9.0, more preferably between about pH 6.0 and
about pH 8.0. In addition to MES and citrate buffers, other
buffers, such as phosphate buffered saline (PBS), Tris,
N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (HEPES),
piperazine-1,4-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (PIPES), borate, and any
other buffer known to those of skill in the art may be suitable.
Selection of appropriate buffers depends on pH buffering capacity
and interaction with the luciferase-luciferin reaction.
[0106] Defoamers
[0107] Defoaming agents are desirable to prevent foam from
interfering with the detection of bioluminescence, especially in
applications that quantify luminescence. Such agents as MAZU may be
organic or silicone based. Selection of defoamers depends on their
ability to eliminate foam without interfering with the
luciferase-luciferin reaction.
[0108] Magnesium
[0109] The beetle luciferase-luciferin reaction is dependent not
only on ATP, but also on magnesium ions. To assure luciferase
activity, magnesium is exogenously supplied. In addition to
magnesium sulfate, other salts of magnesium are contemplated, such
as magnesium chloride, magnesium gluconate, magnesium acetate,
magnesium bromide, magnesium carbonate, etc. In any case, the
magnesium complex must dissociate to make Mg.sup.2+ ions available
to the luciferase and not interfere with the luciferase-luciferin
reaction. One of skill in the art is aware that other cations may
be functional in place of magnesium. These include calcium and
manganese.
[0110] In some applications, endogenous magnesium should be
sufficient in which cases exogenous magnesium could be
eliminated.
[0111] Stablizing Agents
[0112] While resistant to the action of nonionic and low
concentrations of zwitterionic detergents (Simpson and Hammond,
1991), native firefly luciferase is inactivated by cationic
detergents, such as benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride,
CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium), DTAB (dodecyltrimethylammonium
bromide), and methylbenzethonium chloride (Simpson and Hammond,
1991).
[0113] The stabilizing agent can be any compound that stablizes the
luciferase from degradation. Suitable stabilizing agents include
proteins (such as bovine serum albumin or gelatin) or detergents
(preferably non-ionic detergents, most preferably THESIT).
[0114] Other Agents
[0115] Other agents that may be included in a kit include
substances that are known to enhance the duration of luminescence
resulting from a luciferase reaction, such as co-enzyme A (CoA),
thiol reagents, such as dithiothreitol and .beta. mercaptoethanol
(Wood, U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,179, 1994; Wood, U.S. Pat. No.
5,650,289, 1997), metal ion chelators such as EDTA to prolong the
signal and protease inhibitors (Scheirer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,682,
1997; Scheirer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,348, 1999), or high
concentrations of salts (Van Lune and Trer Wiel, WO 00/18953,
2000).
[0116] Other Kit Contents
[0117] Kits may also include reagents in separate containers that
facilitate the execution of a specific test, such as cell
viability, cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, or determination of
ATP concentration. For example, ATP may be supplied so that
standard curves may be determined or to be used as internal
controls. Substances that are known to be transferase inhibitors or
activators can be included for use as a positive control in
detection of transferase activity or for determining the effects of
compounds on transferase activity. The kit may supply multiwell
plates and/or one or more transferase enzymes. The kit may
optionally include substrates for the transferases, buffer, and
co-activators of the transferases.
[0118] 4. Containers or Vessels
[0119] The reagents included in the kits can be supplied in
containers of any sort such that the life of the different
components are preserved, and are not adsorbed or altered by the
materials of the container. For example, sealed glass ampules may
contain lyophilized luciferase or buffer that have been packaged
under a neutral, non-reacting gas, such as nitrogen. Ampules may
consist of any suitable material, such as glass, organic polymers,
such as polycarbonate, polystyrene, etc., ceramic, metal or any
other material typically employed to hold reagents. Other examples
of suitable containers include simple bottles that may be
fabricated from similar substances as ampules, and envelopes, that
may consist of foil-lined interiors, such as aluminum or an alloy.
Other containers include test tubes, vials, flasks, bottles,
syringes, or the like. Containers may have a sterile access port,
such as a bottle having a stopper that can be pierced by a
hypodermic injection needle. Other containers may have two
compartments that are separated by a readily removable membrane
that upon removal permits the components to mix. Removable
membranes may be glass, plastic, rubber, etc.
[0120] 5. Instructional Materials
[0121] Kits may also be supplied with instructional materials.
Instructions may be printed on paper or other substrate, and/or may
be supplied as an electronic-readable medium, such as a floppy
disc, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Zip disc, videotape, audio tape, etc.
Detailed instructions may not be physically associated with the
kit; instead, a user may be directed to an internet web site
specified by the manufacturer or distributor of the kit, or
supplied as electronic mail. In a preferred embodiment, the
instructions instruct the user to combine the luciferase with the
transferase quenching agent before adding the reagent composition
to a sample.
D. REAGENT COMPOSITION ACTIVITY
[0122] To measure luminescence and thereby determine the reagent
composition activity, the relative light unit (rlu) value generated
by the luciferase reaction at a timepoint of interest after the
reagent composition is combined with a sample may be measured. For
example, an rlu value may be obtained by measuring the resulting
luminescence from a sample with a known concentration of ATP
combined with the reagent composition just after (0-10 min) the
component comprising the transferase quenching agent is added to
the component comprising the luciferase thereby creating the
reagent composition. This is considered 100% activity (time zero)
under those conditions. If, after combining the component
comprising the transferase quenching agent with the component
comprising the luciferase and thereby generating the reagent
composition, the reagent composition is left for two hours,
preferably in the temperature range of room temperature (about
20.degree. C.-about 25.degree. C.) to about 37.degree. C., prior to
measuring luminescence under identical conditions as the time 0
assay, and the rlu value obtained is greater than 60% of that
obtained at time 0, then the reagent composition retained at least
60% of its activity for two hours.
[0123] A reagent composition of the present invention retains 30%,
40%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%,
98%, 99% or any increment therein and most preferably 100% of its
activity, as measured by luminescence after the reagent composition
is combined with the sample for at least one hour, preferably for
at least two hours, relative to its activity when formulated (time
zero)--that is from the time the component comprising the
transferase quenching agent was added to the component comprising
luciferase or shortly thereafter (0-10 minutes).
[0124] In one preferred embodiment, the working stock of the
reagent composition comprises DTAB or BDDBr in concentrations of
about 0.02% (preferably about 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%,
0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.3%, 1.4%, 1.5%, 1.6%,
1.7%, 1.8%, 1.9%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, 6.5%,
7%, 7.5%, 8%, 8.5%, 9%, 9.5%, 10% and any increment therein, more
preferably about 1%) and retains at least about 30% (preferably at
least about 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%) of activity at
least one hour (preferably at least two hours) after
formulation.
[0125] In another preferred embodiment, the reagent compositions
comprise sulfobetaine at a concentration of 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%
or 1.0% or any increment therein, SDS at a concentration of 0.001%,
0.002%, 0.003%, 0.004% or 0.005% or any increment therein, or
deoxycholate at a concentration of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%,
0.6% or any increment therein and retain at least about 30%
(preferably at least about 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%)
of activity at least one hour (preferably at least two hours) after
formulation.
E. DETECTING AND QUANTIFYING THE PRODUCTS OF THE
LUCIFERASE-LUCIFERIN REACTION
[0126] A beetle luciferase-luciferin reaction results in the
generation of light ("luminescence"). The invention provides assays
for ATP measurement by measuring luminescence. Users may simply
visually inspect sample reactions to ascertain the production of
light. However, more sensitive instrumentations allow not only
detection of faint signals, but also quantification of the light
signal. Also contemplated are reactions in which non-light products
are measured, according to the nature of the products. Any assay
for measurement of ATP that results in a signal may benefit from
the present invention. Appropriate instruments and methods for such
products will be apparent to the skilled artisan.
[0127] In all cases in which light is detected, specialized
instruments, such as luminometers, can read the light product of a
luciferase-luciferin reaction. Any instrument that can detect light
of the wavelengths emitted by the luciferase-luciferin reaction may
be used. Such instruments may read samples singularly, or in
high-throughput screens, may read many samples housed in the wells
of a microwell plates (6, 24, 48, 96, 384, 1536 and so on, well
formats). Clearly, the devices used to measure the emitted light do
not limit the invention. Other devices that can be used include
scintillation counters (Nguyen et al., 1988) or instruments
invented or adapted to be sensitive to luminescence, such as
photometers (Picciolo et al., 1977). Photographic film or X-ray
film may also be used to detect luminescence. In addition, a user
may visually inspect a sample to qualitatively evaluate
luminescence.
F. USES FOR ATP-DEPENDENT LUCIFERASE-LUCIFERIN REACTIONS
[0128] Because the beetle luciferase-luciferin reaction is
ATP-dependent, luciferase can be used to assay for ATP. The
reaction is remarkably sensitive, allowing ATP to be detected in a
sample containing as little as 10.sup.-16 moles ATP or less. This
sensitivity can be exploited to understand cell viability and the
effects that exogenous substances may exert on cell metabolism and
viability. In a cellular context, ATP powers cellular metabolism,
the presence of ATP correlates to an actively metabolizing cell,
the cell is "viable".
[0129] The invention is drawn to methods, compositions and kits
that are used to effectively and accurately detect and quantify
cellular ATP levels, exploiting the ATP-dependence of beetle
luciferase to oxidize luciferin.
[0130] The invention comprises the addition of a single composition
(reagent composition) that comprises a luciferase and at least one
transferase quenching agent to a sample and then detecting
luminescence. Optionally, a kinase inhibitor or a compound that
prevents accumulation of ATP can also be present in the reagent
composition. Additionally, a cell-lysing agent (e.g., a
polyoxyethylene such as THESIT) or an ATP extracting agent may be
present in the composition. This single step comprising adding the
reagent composition followed by reading the luminescence represents
a significant advance in assays for ATP.
[0131] 1. Detecting ATP
[0132] The methods, compositions and kits of the invention provide
for the simple qualitative or quantitative detection of ATP (or ATP
analogue which can function as a luciferase substrate) in a sample.
In preferred embodiments, a simple qualitative experiment in which
luminescence is generated in a sample using the invention,
indicates the presence of ATP. Luminescence is generated using a
reagent composition comprising luciferase such as LucPpe2m78,
LucPpe2m90, LucPpe2m133 or LucPpe2m146, and one or more transferase
quenching agents. In addition, the reagent composition may further
comprise one or more of the following components: luciferin, which
may be reconstituted from a lyophilized preparation,
(alternatively, an appropriate luciferin-analogue substrate),
transferase quenching agent(s), inhibitor(s) of ATP-consuming
enzymes such as kinases, divalent cation (e.g. magnesium), enzyme
stabilizing agent, buffer, cell-lysis agent, cellular ATP
extracting agent, or exogenously added ATP.
[0133] A sample may be anything that is suspected of containing ATP
or ATP analogue, such as cell lysates, intact cells, biopsies,
foods, beverages, swabs wiped on surfaces such as those of animals,
plants, or inanimate objects, and the like. Other examples of
samples include compositions of a known ATP concentration. Cells or
cell lysates may be from any organism, prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
Examples of prokaryotic cells include E. coli, P. aeruginosa, B.
subtilis, and S. typhimurium. Eukaryotic cells may be from plants,
animals, fungi, insects, etc. or cultured cells from such
organisms. Examples include A. thaliana and Brassica sp.,
Chlamydomonas sp. and Volvox sp. (plants), H. sapiens and Mus sp.
(animals), Saccharoymyces sp. (esp. cerevisae and pombe) and
Neurospora sp. (fungi), D. melanogaster and C. elegans (insects),
in vitro cultured callus cells from any plant, primary cells
cultured in vitro from any organism (such as organ explants from,
for example, rodents), mammalian cell lines such as Madin-Darby
canine kidney (MDCK) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, and
insect cell lines such as Z cells. These examples are furnished
only as examples and are not meant to be limiting.
[0134] A cell lysate comprises cellular components that are no
longer organized into a recognizable intact cellular architecture.
Cell lysates may have soluble and insoluble components, either of
which may be removed before using the lysate. Lysates may be
prepared by any means, including physical disruption using
sonication, a dounce, mortar and pestle, freeze-thaw cycling, or
any other device or process that destroys the physical integrity of
cells; or lysis by detergents, such as those in which LucPpe2m146
retains activity, such as zwitterionic and nonionic detergents, or
cationic detergents DTAB or CTAB. Preferably, the cell lysate is
produced in such a way that the integrity of the ATP concentration
is preserved at the time the cells are harvested. To accurately
detect ATP in a sample, enzymes that would degrade cellular ATP or
those that would generate ATP are preferably inhibited. In the
absence of such inhibitors, an inaccurate determination of ATP
concentration risks being made. Inhibitors such as DTAB inactivate
transferases, while other molecules such as NaF inactivate
ATP-generating enzyme activity. It is hypothesized, yet not fully
understood, that for those cell types in which NaF is effective
(e.g., lymphoid cells), NaF is potentially acting to inhibit (a)
kinase(s).
[0135] 2. Quantifying ATP
[0136] The compositions, methods and kits of the invention permit a
user to quantify the amount of ATP in a sample by quantifying the
amount of luminescence. The invention is applied to a sample of
interest, and also to samples containing known amounts of ATP
(controls). The signal generated from applying the invention to a
sample of unknown ATP concentration is correlated to signals
generated either by internal controls (the addition of a known
amount of ATP to a sample and measuring the subsequent
luminescence) or external standard curves, generated by measuring
the luminescence of several samples of known ATP concentrations and
plotting them graphically. Such methods are known to skilled
artisans. (Moyer and Henderson, 1983; Ronner et al., 1999; Stanley,
1989; Wood et al., 1989).
[0137] 3. Effects of Compounds on Transferase Activity
[0138] The compositions, methods and kits of the present invention
can be applied to measure the effects of compounds, such as
inorganics, small organics, peptides, proteins and polypeptides, on
transferase activity when contacted with a sample (Aiginger et al.,
1980; Andreotti et al., 1995; Bradbury et al., 2000; Cree and
Andreotti, 1997; Crouch et al., 1993; Kangas et al., 1984).
Determining the effects of compounds on transferase activity can
assess the measure of a potential pharmaceutical composition's
effectiveness. Inhibitors of tranferase activity can be useful in
the treatment of cancer cells, especially if they selectively kill
quickly-dividing cells. In other cases, a compound with some other
usefulness may be negated if a transferase inhibitor effect is not
desired. These compounds may be catalogued in compound libraries,
or tested singly. Such applications of the invention apply controls
in which samples are contacted with control substances whose
effects on transferase activity are known. Also preferably,
controls include samples in which luciferase and the compound are
present together to assure that the compound itself is not directly
affecting luciferase activity.
[0139] The following examples are intended to illustrate the
present invention without limitation.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Determining the Activity of Lipid Dependent Serine/Threonine
Kinases
[0140] Commercially available Protein Kinase C ("PKC") was titrated
in a 96 well plate (n=2). Kinase reactions were performed in 20 mM
Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 10 mM MgCl.sub.2, 0.1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin
("BSA"), 250 .mu.M EGTA, 400 .mu.M CaCl.sub.2, 0.32 mg/ml
phosphatidylserine, 0.032 mg/ml diacylglycerol, 10 .mu.M
biotinylated peptide (AAKIQASFRGHMARKK), and 1 .mu.M ATP with the
indicated amount of PKC (Promega, Catalog #V5621). Final kinase
reaction volume was 50 .mu.l. Following a 90 minute kinase
reaction, 50 .mu.l of a luminescent buffer reagent (pH 6.0+0.15)
containing 20 mM citrate; 55 mM MES; 10.5 mM magnesium sulfate; 0.6
mM CDTA; 225 mM potassium buffer (pH 6.0); 1 mM NaF; 0.0125 uM
sodium pyrophosphate; 0.5% DTAB; 1.0% Thesit; 0.1% Mazu DF 204; 2.5
mM luciferin; and 0.2% 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid
containing 10 .mu.g/ml [TRUE?] of a thermostable firefly luciferase
reporter 146-1H2 (see SEQ ID NO.: 4 and SEQ ID NO.: 8) was added to
each well and allowed to incubate for 10 minutes prior to reading
luminescence. FIG. 1 clearly shows that a reliable titration curve
is obtained measuring the kinase activity of a serine/threonine
kinase using a method of the present invention.
Example 2
Determining the Activity of Tyrosine Kinases
[0141] Commercially available Lck was titrated in a 96 well plate
(n=2). Lck is a gene family encoding nonreceptor tyrosine kinases
of the Src family. Kinase reactions were performed in 8 mM
imidazole hydrochloride (pH 7.3), 8 mM .beta.-glycerophosphate, 200
.mu.M EGTA, 20 mM MgCl.sub.2, 1 mM MnCl.sub.2, 0.1 mg/ml BSA, 250
.mu.M biotinylated peptide substrate (AEEEIYGELEA), and 3 .mu.M ATP
with the indicated amount of Lck (Upstate, Catalog #14-442). Final
kinase reaction volume was 50 .mu.l. Following a 60 minute kinase
reaction, 50 .mu.l of a luminescent buffer reagent as described in
Example 1 was added to each well and allowed to incubate for 10
minutes prior to reading luminescence. FIG. 2 clearly shows that a
consistent titration curve is obtained using the method of the
present invention.
Example 3
Determining the Activity of Cyclic-AMP Dependent Serine/Threonine
Protein Kinase
[0142] Commercially available Protein Kinase A ("PKA") was titrated
in a 96 well plate (n=8). Kinase reactions were performed in 40 mM
Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 20 mM MgCl.sub.2, 0.1 mg/ml BSA, 5 .mu.M
kemptide (LRRASLG), and 1 .mu.M ATP with the indicated amount of
PKA (Promega, Catalog #V5161). Final kinase reaction volume was 50
.mu.l. Following a 20 minute kinase reaction, 50 .mu.l of a
luminescent buffer reagent as described in Example 1 was added to
each well and allowed to incubate for 10 minutes prior to reading
luminescence. FIG. 3 clearly shows that using the method of the
present invention, a reliable titration curve is obtained.
Example 4
Determining the Inhibition of Protein Kinase A Induced by
Staurosporine
[0143] Inhibition of commercially available PKA in a 96 well plate
(n=4) was induced by Staurosporine. Kinase reactions were performed
in 40 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 20 mM MgCl.sub.2, 0.1 mg/ml BSA, 5
.mu.M kemptide (LRRASLG), and 1 .mu.M ATP with the indicated amount
of Staurosporine (Calbiochem, Catalog #569397) shown in FIG. 4.
Final kinase reaction volume was 50 .mu.l. Following a 20 minute
kinase reaction, 50 .mu.l of the luminescent buffer agent described
in Example 1 was added to each well and allowed to incubate for 10
minutes prior to reading luminescence. FIG. 4 shows that using the
method of the present invention, an IC.sub.50 can be easily and
reliably obtained. Moreover, the IC.sub.50 value determined by the
present invention is consistent with those obtained using well
established assays for protein kinase inhibition.
Example 5
Determining the inhibition of Protein Kinase A Induced by PKI
[0144] cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Peptide Inhibitor (PKI)
induced inhibition of PKA in a 96 well plate (n=4). Kinase
reactions were performed in 40 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 20 mM
MgCl.sub.2, 0.1 mg/ml BSA, 5 .mu.M kemptide (LRRASLG), and 1 .mu.M
ATP with indicated amount of PKI (Promega, Catalog #V5681). Final
kinase reaction volume was 50 .mu.l. 0.5 U/well of PKA was utilized
in the reaction. Following a 20 minute kinase reaction, 50 .mu.l of
the luminescent buffer reagent of Example 1 was added to each well
and allowed to incubate for 10 minutes prior to reading
luminescence. FIG. 5 shows that the IC.sub.50 can be easily and
reliably obtained using the method of the present the invention.
Moreover, the IC.sub.50 measured using the present invention is
consistent with those obtained using well-established assays for
protein kinase inhibition.
Example 6
Z' Analysis of Kinase Assay of the Present Invention
[0145] The assays of the present invention can be readily used in
high throughput screening using multi-well plates. A common
indicator of the reproducibility and effectiveness of an assay is a
z' factor or analysis. An accepted z' value is typically
.gtoreq.0.5. In the present example, Z' analysis of PKA Assay in a
96 well plate (n=32) was conducted. Kinase reactions were performed
in 40 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 20 mM MgCl.sub.2, 0.1 mg/ml BSA, 82
.mu.M kemptide (LRRASLG), and 1 .mu.M ATP with either no PKA (open
circles), 0.25 U/well PKA (closed circles), or 0.5 U/well PKA (open
squares). "U/well" is units of kinase per well. Final kinase
reaction volume was 50 .mu.l. Following a 20 minute kinase
reaction, 50 .mu.l of the luminescent buffer reagent of Example 1
was added to each well and allowed to incubate for 10 minutes prior
to reading luminescence. Solid lines are the mean and dotted lines
are the mean+/-3SD of the respective data sets. Z' values were 0.93
for 0.5 U/well PKA and 0.92 for 0.25 U/well PKA. FIG. 6 clearly
shows the reproducibility of the assay of the present
invention.
Example 7
Determining the Utility of the Invention in Identifying Inhibitors
in a High Through Put Screen
[0146] In order to further demonstrate the usefulness of the
present invention as a high throughput screen, eight (80) compounds
from the LOPAC Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds for
Assay Validation and High Throughput Screening (Sigma, Catalog
#SC001) were included on a 96 well plate. Kinase reactions were
performed in 40 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 20 mM MgCl.sub.2, 0.1 mg/ml
BSA, 5 .mu.M kemptide (LRRASLG), 1 .mu.M ATP, and 0.5 U/well PKA in
the presence of 10 .mu.M of each library compound. The final kinase
reaction volume was 50 .mu.l. Following a 20 minute kinase
reaction, 50 .mu.l of the luminescent buffer reagent was added to
each well and allowed to incubate for 10 minutes prior to reading
luminescence.
[0147] Six "hits" or positives were identified (RLU>40,000).
From left to right, on FIG. 7, the positive compounds are HA-1004
hydrochloride, H-7 dihydrochloride, H-8 dihydrochloride, and H-9
dihydrochloride, U-73122, and GW5074. The first 4 compounds are
well known inhibitors of PKA. Accordingly, it is clear from the
results shown in FIG. 7, that inhibitors of kinases can be easily
and quickly identified using the method of the present invention.
With respect to the additional positive compounds, U-73122 is a
known inhibitor of Phospholipase C, A2 and GW5074 is a known
inhibitor of cRaf1 kinase. To confirm whether these two additional
compounds are also inhibitors of PKA, each of these compounds could
be titrated with PKA to determine their IC.sub.50 values.
Example 8
Determining Stability of Kinase Signal
[0148] As discussed above, the present invention provides the user
with stable luminescent readout over long periods of time, making
it possible to stack well-plates. In this example, commercially
available PKA was assessed in a 96 well plate (n=32). Kinase
reactions were performed in 40 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 20 mM
MgCl.sub.2, 0.1 mg/ml BSA, 5 .mu.M kemptide (LRRASLG), and 1 .mu.M
ATP with either no PKA, 0.25 U/well PKA, or 0.5 U/well PKA. The
final kinase reaction volume was 50 .mu.l. Following a 20 minute
kinase reaction, 50 .mu.l of the luminescent buffer reagent of
Example 1 was added to each well and allowed to incubate for 10
minutes prior to reading luminescence at the indicated times.
Signal loss at 4 hours was <25%. FIG. 8 shows that the
luminescent signal is quite stable over time, making the method of
the invention very useful in automated procedures.
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Sequence CWU 1
1
81544PRTPhoturis pennsylvanica 1Met Ala Asp Lys Asn Ile Leu Tyr Gly
Pro Glu Pro Phe Tyr Pro Leu1 5 10 15Ala Asp Gly Thr Ala Gly Glu Gln
Met Phe Asp Ala Leu Ser Arg Tyr 20 25 30Ala Asp Ile Ser Gly Cys Ile
Ala Leu Thr Asn Ala His Thr Lys Glu 35 40 45Asn Val Leu Tyr Glu Glu
Phe Leu Lys Leu Ser Cys Arg Leu Ala Glu 50 55 60Ser Phe Lys Lys Tyr
Gly Leu Lys Gln Asn Asp Thr Ile Ala Val Cys65 70 75 80Ser Glu Asn
Gly Leu Gln Phe Phe Leu Pro Val Ile Ala Ser Leu Tyr 85 90 95Leu Gly
Ile Ile Ala Ala Pro Val Ser Asp Lys Tyr Ile Glu Arg Glu 100 105
110Leu Ile His Ser Leu Gly Ile Val Lys Pro Arg Ile Ile Phe Cys Ser
115 120 125Lys Asn Thr Phe Gln Lys Val Leu Asn Val Lys Ser Lys Leu
Lys Ser 130 135 140Val Glu Thr Ile Ile Ile Leu Asp Leu Asn Glu Asp
Leu Gly Gly Tyr145 150 155 160Gln Cys Leu Asn Asn Phe Ile Ser Gln
Asn Ser Asp Ser Asn Leu Asp 165 170 175Val Lys Lys Phe Lys Pro Tyr
Ser Phe Asn Arg Asp Asp Gln Val Ala 180 185 190Leu Val Met Phe Ser
Ser Gly Thr Thr Gly Val Pro Lys Gly Val Met 195 200 205Leu Thr His
Lys Asn Ile Val Ala Arg Phe Ser Leu Ala Lys Asp Pro 210 215 220Thr
Phe Gly Asn Ala Ile Asn Pro Thr Thr Ala Ile Leu Thr Val Ile225 230
235 240Pro Phe His His Gly Phe Gly Met Met Thr Thr Leu Gly Tyr Phe
Thr 245 250 255Cys Gly Phe Arg Val Val Leu Met His Thr Phe Glu Glu
Lys Leu Phe 260 265 270Leu Gln Ser Leu Gln Asp Tyr Lys Val Glu Ser
Thr Leu Leu Val Pro 275 280 285Thr Leu Met Ala Phe Leu Ala Lys Ser
Ala Leu Val Glu Lys Tyr Asp 290 295 300Leu Ser His Leu Lys Glu Ile
Ala Ser Gly Gly Ala Pro Leu Ser Lys305 310 315 320Glu Ile Gly Glu
Met Val Lys Lys Arg Phe Lys Leu Asn Phe Val Arg 325 330 335Gln Gly
Tyr Gly Leu Thr Glu Thr Thr Ser Ala Val Leu Ile Thr Pro 340 345
350Lys Gly Asp Ala Arg Pro Gly Ser Thr Gly Lys Ile Val Pro Phe His
355 360 365Ala Val Lys Val Val Asp Pro Thr Thr Gly Lys Ile Leu Gly
Pro Asn 370 375 380Glu Pro Gly Glu Leu Tyr Phe Lys Gly Ala Met Ile
Met Lys Gly Tyr385 390 395 400Tyr Asn Asn Glu Glu Ala Thr Lys Ala
Ile Ile Asp Asn Asp Gly Trp 405 410 415Leu Arg Ser Gly Asp Ile Ala
Tyr Tyr Asp Asn Asp Gly His Phe Tyr 420 425 430Ile Val Asp Arg Leu
Lys Ser Leu Ile Lys Tyr Lys Gly Tyr Gln Val 435 440 445Ala Pro Ala
Glu Ile Glu Gly Ile Leu Leu Gln His Pro Tyr Ile Val 450 455 460Asp
Ala Gly Val Thr Gly Ile Pro Asp Glu Ala Ala Gly Glu Leu Pro465 470
475 480Ala Ala Gly Val Val Val Gln Thr Gly Lys Tyr Leu Asn Glu Gln
Ile 485 490 495Val Gln Asp Phe Val Ser Ser Gln Val Ser Thr Ala Lys
Trp Leu Arg 500 505 510Gly Gly Val Lys Phe Leu Asp Glu Ile Pro Lys
Gly Ser Thr Gly Lys 515 520 525Ile Asp Arg Lys Val Leu Arg Gln Met
Phe Glu Lys His Thr Asn Gly 530 535 5402544PRTPhoturis
pennsylvanica 2Met Ala Asp Lys Asn Ile Leu Tyr Gly Pro Glu Pro Phe
Tyr Pro Leu1 5 10 15Glu Asp Gly Thr Ala Gly Glu Gln Met Phe Asp Ala
Leu Ser Arg Tyr 20 25 30Ala Asp Ile Pro Gly Cys Ile Ala Leu Thr Asn
Ala His Thr Lys Glu 35 40 45Asn Val Leu Tyr Glu Glu Phe Leu Lys Leu
Ser Cys Arg Leu Ala Glu 50 55 60Ser Phe Lys Lys Tyr Gly Leu Lys Gln
Asn Asp Thr Ile Ala Val Cys65 70 75 80Ser Glu Asn Gly Leu Gln Phe
Phe Leu Pro Val Ile Ala Ser Leu Tyr 85 90 95Leu Gly Ile Ile Val Ala
Pro Val Asn Asp Lys Tyr Ile Glu Arg Glu 100 105 110Leu Ile His Ser
Leu Gly Ile Val Lys Pro Arg Ile Val Phe Cys Ser 115 120 125Lys Asn
Thr Phe Gln Lys Val Leu Asn Val Lys Ser Lys Leu Lys Ser 130 135
140Ile Glu Thr Ile Ile Ile Leu Asp Leu Asn Glu Asp Leu Gly Gly
Tyr145 150 155 160Gln Cys Leu Asn Asn Phe Ile Ser Gln Asn Ser Asp
Ser Asn Leu Asp 165 170 175Val Lys Lys Phe Lys Pro Tyr Ser Phe Asn
Arg Asp Asp Gln Val Ala 180 185 190Leu Ile Met Phe Ser Ser Gly Thr
Thr Gly Leu Pro Lys Gly Val Met 195 200 205Leu Thr His Lys Asn Ile
Val Ala Arg Phe Ser Leu Ala Lys Asp Pro 210 215 220Thr Phe Gly Asn
Ala Ile Asn Pro Thr Thr Ala Ile Leu Thr Val Ile225 230 235 240Pro
Phe His His Gly Phe Gly Met Met Thr Thr Leu Gly Tyr Phe Thr 245 250
255Cys Gly Phe Arg Val Val Leu Met His Thr Phe Glu Glu Lys Leu Phe
260 265 270Leu Gln Ser Leu Gln Asp Tyr Lys Val Glu Ser Thr Leu Leu
Val Pro 275 280 285Thr Leu Met Ala Phe Leu Ala Lys Ser Ala Leu Val
Glu Lys Tyr Asp 290 295 300Leu Ser His Leu Lys Glu Ile Ala Ser Gly
Gly Ala Pro Leu Ser Lys305 310 315 320Glu Ile Gly Glu Met Val Lys
Lys Arg Phe Lys Leu Asn Phe Val Arg 325 330 335Gln Gly Tyr Gly Leu
Thr Glu Thr Thr Ser Ala Val Leu Ile Thr Pro 340 345 350Lys Gly Asp
Ala Lys Pro Gly Ser Thr Gly Lys Ile Val Pro Phe His 355 360 365Ala
Val Lys Val Val Asp Pro Thr Thr Gly Lys Ile Leu Gly Pro Asn 370 375
380Glu Pro Gly Glu Leu Tyr Phe Lys Gly Pro Met Ile Met Lys Gly
Tyr385 390 395 400Tyr Asn Asn Glu Glu Ala Thr Lys Ala Ile Ile Asp
Asn Asp Gly Trp 405 410 415Leu Arg Ser Gly Asp Ile Ala Tyr Tyr Asp
Asn Asp Gly His Phe Tyr 420 425 430Ile Val Asp Arg Leu Lys Ser Leu
Ile Lys Tyr Lys Gly Tyr Gln Val 435 440 445Ala Pro Ala Glu Ile Glu
Gly Ile Leu Leu Gln His Pro Tyr Ile Val 450 455 460Asp Ala Gly Val
Thr Gly Ile Pro Asp Glu Ala Ala Gly Glu Leu Pro465 470 475 480Ala
Ala Gly Val Val Val Gln Thr Gly Lys Tyr Leu Asn Glu Gln Ile 485 490
495Val Gln Asp Tyr Val Ala Ser Gln Val Ser Thr Ala Lys Trp Leu Arg
500 505 510Gly Gly Val Lys Phe Leu Asp Glu Ile Pro Lys Gly Ser Thr
Gly Lys 515 520 525Ile Asp Arg Lys Val Leu Arg Gln Met Phe Glu Lys
His Thr Asn Gly 530 535 5403544PRTPhoturis pennsylvanica 3Met Ala
Asp Lys Asn Ile Leu Tyr Gly Pro Glu Pro Phe Tyr Pro Leu1 5 10 15Glu
Asp Gly Thr Ala Gly Glu Gln Met Phe Asp Ala Leu Ser Arg Tyr 20 25
30Ala Asp Ile Pro Gly Cys Ile Ala Leu Thr Asn Ala His Thr Lys Glu
35 40 45Asn Val Leu Tyr Glu Glu Phe Leu Lys Leu Ser Cys Arg Leu Ala
Glu 50 55 60Ser Phe Lys Lys Tyr Gly Leu Lys Gln Asn Asp Thr Ile Ala
Val Cys65 70 75 80Ser Glu Asn Ser Leu Gln Phe Phe Leu Pro Val Ile
Ala Ser Leu Tyr 85 90 95Leu Gly Ile Ile Val Ala Pro Val Asn Asp Lys
Tyr Ile Glu Arg Glu 100 105 110Leu Ile His Ser Leu Gly Ile Val Lys
Pro Arg Ile Val Phe Cys Ser 115 120 125Lys Asn Thr Phe Gln Lys Val
Leu Asn Val Lys Ser Lys Leu Lys Ser 130 135 140Ile Glu Thr Ile Ile
Ile Leu Asp Leu Asn Asp Asp Leu Gly Gly Tyr145 150 155 160Gln Cys
Leu Asn Asn Phe Ile Ser Gln Asn Ser Asp Ser Asn Leu Asp 165 170
175Val Lys Lys Phe Lys Pro Tyr Ser Phe Asn Arg Asp Asp Gln Val Ala
180 185 190Leu Ile Met Phe Ser Ser Gly Thr Thr Gly Leu Pro Lys Gly
Val Met 195 200 205Leu Thr His Lys Asn Ile Val Ala Arg Phe Ser Ile
Ala Lys Asp Pro 210 215 220Thr Phe Gly Asn Ala Ile Asn Pro Thr Ser
Ala Ile Leu Thr Val Ile225 230 235 240Pro Phe His His Gly Phe Gly
Met Met Thr Thr Leu Gly Tyr Phe Thr 245 250 255Cys Gly Phe Arg Val
Val Leu Met His Thr Phe Glu Glu Lys Leu Phe 260 265 270Leu Gln Ser
Leu Gln Asp Tyr Lys Val Glu Ser Thr Leu Leu Val Pro 275 280 285Thr
Leu Met Ala Phe Leu Ala Lys Ser Ala Leu Val Glu Lys Tyr Asp 290 295
300Leu Ser His Leu Lys Glu Ile Ala Ser Gly Gly Ala Pro Leu Ser
Lys305 310 315 320Glu Ile Gly Glu Met Val Lys Lys Arg Phe Lys Leu
Asn Phe Val Arg 325 330 335Gln Gly Tyr Gly Leu Thr Glu Thr Thr Ser
Ala Val Leu Ile Thr Pro 340 345 350Lys Gly Asp Ala Lys Pro Gly Ser
Thr Gly Lys Ile Val Pro Phe His 355 360 365Ala Val Lys Val Val Asp
Pro Thr Thr Gly Lys Ile Leu Gly Pro Asn 370 375 380Glu Pro Gly Glu
Leu Tyr Phe Lys Gly Pro Met Ile Met Lys Gly Tyr385 390 395 400Tyr
Asn Asn Glu Glu Ala Thr Lys Ala Ile Ile Asp Asn Asp Gly Trp 405 410
415Leu Arg Ser Gly Asp Ile Ala Tyr Tyr Asp Asn Asp Gly His Phe Tyr
420 425 430Ile Val Asp Arg Leu Lys Ser Leu Ile Lys Tyr Lys Gly Tyr
Gln Val 435 440 445Ala Pro Ala Glu Ile Glu Gly Ile Leu Leu Gln His
Pro Tyr Ile Val 450 455 460Asp Ala Gly Val Thr Gly Ile Pro Asp Glu
Ala Ala Gly Glu Leu Pro465 470 475 480Ala Ala Gly Val Val Val Gln
Thr Gly Lys Tyr Leu Asn Glu Gln Ile 485 490 495Val Gln Asp Tyr Val
Ala Ser Gln Val Ser Thr Ala Lys Trp Leu Arg 500 505 510Gly Gly Val
Ile Phe Leu Asp Glu Ile Pro Lys Gly Ser Thr Gly Lys 515 520 525Ile
Asp Arg Lys Val Leu Arg Gln Met Leu Glu Lys His Thr Asn Gly 530 535
5404544PRTPhoturis pennsylvanica 4Met Ala Asp Lys Asn Ile Leu Tyr
Gly Pro Glu Pro Phe Tyr Pro Leu1 5 10 15Glu Asp Gly Thr Ala Gly Glu
Gln Met Phe Asp Ala Leu Ser Arg Tyr 20 25 30Ala Ala Ile Pro Gly Cys
Ile Ala Leu Thr Asn Ala His Thr Lys Glu 35 40 45Asn Val Leu Tyr Glu
Glu Phe Leu Lys Leu Ser Cys Arg Leu Ala Glu 50 55 60Ser Phe Lys Lys
Tyr Gly Leu Lys Gln Asn Asp Thr Ile Ala Val Cys65 70 75 80Ser Glu
Asn Ser Leu Gln Phe Phe Leu Pro Val Ile Ala Ser Leu Tyr 85 90 95Leu
Gly Ile Ile Val Ala Pro Val Asn Asp Lys Tyr Ile Glu Arg Glu 100 105
110Leu Ile His Ser Leu Gly Ile Val Lys Pro Arg Ile Val Phe Cys Ser
115 120 125Lys Asn Thr Phe Gln Lys Val Leu Asn Val Lys Ser Lys Leu
Lys Ser 130 135 140Ile Glu Thr Ile Ile Ile Leu Asp Leu Asn Glu Asp
Leu Gly Gly Tyr145 150 155 160Gln Cys Leu Asn Asn Phe Ile Ser Gln
Asn Ser Asp Ser Asn Leu Asp 165 170 175Val Lys Lys Phe Lys Pro Tyr
Ser Phe Asn Arg Asp Asp Gln Val Ala 180 185 190Ser Ile Met Phe Ser
Ser Gly Thr Thr Gly Leu Pro Lys Gly Val Met 195 200 205Leu Thr His
Lys Asn Ile Val Ala Arg Phe Ser Ile Ala Lys Asp Pro 210 215 220Thr
Phe Gly Asn Ala Ile Asn Pro Thr Ser Ala Ile Leu Thr Val Ile225 230
235 240Pro Phe His His Gly Phe Gly Met Met Thr Thr Leu Gly Tyr Phe
Thr 245 250 255Cys Gly Phe Arg Val Val Leu Met His Thr Phe Glu Glu
Lys Leu Phe 260 265 270Leu Gln Ser Leu Gln Asp Tyr Lys Val Glu Ser
Thr Leu Leu Val Pro 275 280 285Thr Leu Met Ala Phe Leu Ala Lys Ser
Ala Leu Val Glu Lys Tyr Asp 290 295 300Leu Ser His Leu Lys Glu Ile
Ala Ser Gly Gly Ala Pro Leu Ser Lys305 310 315 320Glu Ile Gly Glu
Met Val Lys Lys Arg Phe Lys Leu Asn Phe Val Arg 325 330 335Gln Gly
Tyr Gly Leu Thr Glu Thr Thr Ser Ala Val Leu Ile Thr Pro 340 345
350Lys Gly Asp Ala Lys Pro Gly Ser Thr Gly Lys Ile Val Pro Leu His
355 360 365Ala Val Lys Val Val Asp Pro Thr Thr Gly Lys Ile Leu Gly
Pro Asn 370 375 380Glu Pro Gly Glu Leu Tyr Phe Lys Gly Pro Met Ile
Met Lys Gly Tyr385 390 395 400Tyr Asn Asn Glu Glu Ala Thr Lys Ala
Ile Ile Asp Asn Asp Gly Trp 405 410 415Leu Arg Ser Gly Asp Ile Ala
Tyr Tyr Asp Asn Asp Gly His Phe Tyr 420 425 430Ile Val Asp Arg Leu
Lys Ser Leu Ile Lys Tyr Lys Gly Tyr Gln Val 435 440 445Ala Pro Ala
Glu Ile Glu Gly Ile Leu Leu Gln His Pro Tyr Ile Val 450 455 460Asp
Ala Gly Val Thr Gly Ile Pro Asp Glu Ala Ala Gly Glu Leu Pro465 470
475 480Ala Ala Gly Val Val Val Gln Thr Gly Lys Tyr Leu Asn Glu Gln
Ile 485 490 495Val Gln Asp Tyr Val Ala Ser Gln Val Ser Thr Ala Lys
Trp Leu Arg 500 505 510Gly Gly Val Lys Phe Leu Asp Glu Ile Pro Lys
Gly Ser Thr Gly Lys 515 520 525Ile Asp Arg Lys Val Leu Arg Gln Met
Leu Glu Lys His Thr Asn Gly 530 535 54051639DNAPhoturis
pennsylvanica 5ggatccaatg gcagataaga atattttata tgggcccgaa
ccattttatc ccttggctga 60tgggacggct ggagaacaga tgtttgacgc attatctcgt
tatgcagata tttccggatg 120catagcattg acaaatgctc atacaaaaga
aaatgtttta tatgaagagt ttttaaaatt 180gtcgtgtcgt ttagcggaaa
gttttaaaaa gtatggatta aaacaaaacg acacaatagc 240ggtgtgtagc
gaaaatggtt tgcaattttt ccttcctgta attgcatcat tgtatcttgg
300aataattgca gcacctgtta gtgataaata cattgaacgt gaattaatac
acagtcttgg 360tattgtaaaa ccacgcataa ttttttgctc caagaatact
tttcaaaaag tactgaatgt 420aaaatctaaa ttaaaatctg tagaaactat
tattatatta gacttaaatg aagacttagg 480aggttatcaa tgcctcaaca
actttatttc tcaaaattcc gatagtaatc tggacgtaaa 540aaaatttaaa
ccatattctt ttaatcgaga cgatcaggtt gcgttggtaa tgttttcttc
600tggtacaact ggtgttccga agggagtcat gctaactcac aagaatattg
ttgcacgatt 660ttctcttgca aaagatccta cttttggtaa cgcaattaat
cccacgacag caattttaac 720ggtaatacct ttccaccatg gttttggtat
gatgaccaca ttaggatact ttacttgtgg 780attccgagtt gttctaatgc
acacgtttga agaaaaacta tttctacaat cattacaaga 840ttataaagtg
gaaagtactt tacttgtacc aacattaatg gcatttcttg caaaaagtgc
900attagttgaa aagtacgatt tatcgcactt aaaagaaatt gcatctggtg
gcgcaccttt 960atcaaaagaa attggggaga tggtgaaaaa acggtttaaa
ttaaactttg tcaggcaagg 1020gtatggatta acagaaacca cttcggctgt
tttaattaca ccgaaaggtg acgccagacc 1080gggatcaact ggtaaaatag
taccatttca cgctgttaaa gttgtcgatc ctacaacagg 1140aaaaattttg
gggccaaatg aacctggaga attgtatttt aaaggcgcca tgataatgaa
1200gggttattat aataatgaag aagctactaa agcaattatt gataatgacg
gatggttgcg 1260ctctggtgat attgcttatt atgacaatga tggccatttt
tatattgtgg acaggctgaa 1320gtcattaatt aaatataaag gttatcaggt
tgcacctgct gaaattgagg gaatactctt 1380acaacatccg tatattgttg
atgccggcgt tactggtata ccggatgaag ccgcgggcga 1440gcttccagct
gcaggtgttg tagtacagac tggaaaatat ctaaacgaac aaatcgtaca
1500agattttgtt tccagtcaag tttcaacagc caaatggcta cgtggtgggg
tgaaattttt 1560ggatgaaatt cccaaaggat caactggaaa aattgacaga
aaagtgttaa gacaaatgtt 1620tgaaaaacac accaatggg 163961639DNAPhoturis
pennsylvanica
6ggatccaatg gcagataaga atattttata tgggcccgaa ccattttatc ccttggaaga
60tgggacggct ggagaacaga tgtttgacgc attatctcgt tatgcagata ttccgggctg
120catagcattg acaaatgctc atacaaaaga aaatgtttta tatgaagagt
ttctgaaact 180gtcgtgtcgt ttagcggaaa gttttaaaaa gtatggatta
aaacaaaacg acacaatagc 240ggtgtgtagc gaaaatggtc tgcaattttt
ccttcctgta attgcatcat tgtatcttgg 300aataattgtg gcacctgtta
acgataaata cattgaacgt gaattaatac acagtcttgg 360tattgtaaaa
ccacgcatag ttttttgctc caagaatact tttcaaaaag tactgaatgt
420aaaatctaaa ttaaaatcta ttgaaactat tattatatta gacttaaatg
aagacttagg 480aggttatcaa tgcctcaaca actttatttc tcaaaattcc
gatagtaatc tggacgtaaa 540aaaatttaaa ccatattctt ttaatcgaga
cgatcaggtt gcgttgatta tgttttcttc 600tggtacaact ggtctgccga
agggagtcat gctaactcac aagaatattg ttgcacgatt 660ttctcttgca
aaagatccta cttttggtaa cgcaattaat cccacgacag caattttaac
720ggtaatacct ttccaccatg gttttggtat gatgaccaca ttaggatact
ttacttgtgg 780attccgagtt gttctaatgc acacgtttga agaaaaacta
tttctacaat cattacaaga 840ttataaagtg gaaagtactt tacttgtacc
aacattaatg gcatttcttg caaaaagtgc 900attagttgaa aagtacgatt
tatcgcactt aaaagaaatt gcatctggtg gcgcaccttt 960atcaaaagaa
attggggaga tggtgaaaaa acggtttaaa ttaaactttg tcaggcaagg
1020gtatggatta acagaaacca cttcggctgt tttaattaca ccgaaaggtg
acgccaaacc 1080gggatcaact ggtaaaatag taccatttca cgctgttaaa
gttgtcgatc ctacaacagg 1140aaaaattttg gggccaaatg aacctggaga
attgtatttt aaaggcccga tgataatgaa 1200gggttattat aataatgaag
aagctactaa agcaattatt gataatgacg gatggttgcg 1260ctctggtgat
attgcttatt atgacaatga tggccatttt tatattgtgg acaggctgaa
1320gtcactgatt aaatataaag gttatcaggt tgcacctgct gaaattgagg
gaatactctt 1380acaacatccg tatattgttg atgccggcgt tactggtata
ccggatgaag ccgcgggcga 1440gcttccagct gcaggtgttg tagtacagac
tggaaaatat ctaaacgaac aaatcgtaca 1500agattatgtt gccagtcaag
tttcaacagc caaatggcta cgtggtgggg tgaaattttt 1560ggatgaaatt
cccaaaggat caactggaaa aattgacaga aaagtgttaa gacaaatgtt
1620tgaaaaacac accaatggg 163971639DNAPhoturis pennsylvanica
7agatccaatg gcagataaga atattttata tgggcccgaa ccattttatc ccttggaaga
60tgggacggct ggagaacaga tgtttgacgc attatctcgt tatgcagata ttccgggctg
120catagcattg acaaatgctc atacaaaaga aaatgtttta tatgaagagt
ttctgaaact 180gtcgtgtcgt ttagcggaaa gttttaaaaa gtatggatta
aaacaaaacg acacaatagc 240ggtgtgtagc gaaaatagtc tgcaattttt
ccttcctgta attgcatcat tgtatcttgg 300aataattgtg gcacctgtta
acgataaata cattgaacgt gaattaatac acagtcttgg 360tattgtaaaa
ccacgcatag ttttttgctc caagaatact tttcaaaaag tactgaatgt
420aaaatctaaa ttaaaatcta ttgaaactat tattatatta gacttaaatg
atgacttagg 480aggttatcaa tgcctcaaca actttatttc tcaaaattcc
gatagtaatc tggacgtaaa 540aaaatttaaa ccatattctt ttaatcgaga
cgatcaggtt gcgttgatta tgttttcttc 600tggtacaact ggtctgccga
agggagtcat gctaactcac aagaatattg ttgcacgatt 660ttctattgca
aaagatccta cttttggtaa cgcaattaat cccacgtcag caattttaac
720ggtaatacct ttccaccatg gttttggtat gatgaccaca ttaggatact
ttacttgtgg 780attccgagtt gttctaatgc acacgtttga agaaaaacta
tttctacaat cattacaaga 840ttataaagtg gaaagtactt tacttgtacc
aacattaatg gcatttcttg caaaaagtgc 900attagttgaa aagtacgatt
tatcgcactt aaaagaaatt gcatctggtg gcgcaccttt 960atcaaaagaa
attggggaga tggtgaaaaa acggtttaaa ttaaactttg tcaggcaagg
1020gtatggatta acagaaacca cttcggctgt tttaattaca ccgaaaggtg
acgccaaacc 1080gggatcaact ggtaaaatag taccatttca cgctgttaaa
gttgtcgatc ctacaacagg 1140aaaaattttg gggccaaatg aacctggaga
attgtatttt aaaggcccga tgataatgaa 1200gggttattat aataatgaag
aagctactaa agcaattatt gataatgacg gatggttgcg 1260ctctggtgat
attgcttatt atgacaatga tggccatttt tatattgtgg acaggctgaa
1320gtcactgatt aaatataaag gttatcaggt tgcacctgct gaaattgagg
gaatactctt 1380acaacatccg tatattgttg atgccggcgt tactggtata
ccggatgaag ccgcgggcga 1440gcttccagct gcaggtgttg tagtacagac
tggaaaatat ctaaacgaac aaatcgtaca 1500agattatgtt gccagtcaag
tttcaacagc caaatggcta cgtggtgggg tgatattttt 1560ggatgaaatt
cccaaaggat caactggaaa aattgacaga aaagtgttaa gacaaatgtt
1620agaaaaacac accaatggg 163981639DNAPhoturis pennsylvanica
8ggatccaatg gcagataaga atattttata tgggcccgaa ccattttatc ccttggaaga
60tgggacggct ggagaacaga tgtttgacgc attatctcgt tatgcagcta ttccgggctg
120catagcattg acaaatgctc atacaaaaga aaatgtttta tatgaagagt
ttctgaaact 180gtcgtgtcgt ttagcggaaa gttttaaaaa gtatggatta
aaacaaaacg acacaatagc 240ggtgtgtagc gaaaatagtc tgcaattttt
ccttcctgta attgcatcat tgtatcttgg 300aataattgtg gcacctgtta
acgataaata cattgaacgt gaattaatac acagtcttgg 360tattgtaaaa
ccacgcatag ttttttgctc caagaatact tttcaaaaag tactgaatgt
420aaaatctaaa ttaaaatcta ttgaaactat tattatatta gacttaaatg
aagacttagg 480aggttatcaa tgcctcaaca actttatttc tcaaaattcc
gatagtaatc tggacgtaaa 540aaaatttaaa ccctattctt ttaatcgaga
cgatcaggtt gcgtcgatta tgttttcttc 600tggtacaact ggtctgccga
agggagtcat gctaactcac aagaatattg ttgcacgatt 660ttctattgca
aaagatccta cttttggtaa cgcaattaat cccacgtcag caattttaac
720ggtaatacct ttccaccatg gttttggtat gatgaccaca ttaggatact
ttacttgtgg 780attccgagtt gttctaatgc acacgtttga agaaaaacta
tttctacaat cattacaaga 840ttataaagtg gaaagtactt tacttgtacc
aacattaatg gcatttcttg caaaaagtgc 900attagttgaa aagtacgatt
tatcgcactt aaaagaaatt gcatctggtg gcgcaccttt 960atcaaaagaa
attggggaga tggtgaaaaa acggtttaaa ttaaactttg tcaggcaagg
1020gtatggatta acagaaacca cttcggctgt tttaattaca ccgaaaggtg
acgccaaacc 1080gggatcaact ggtaaaatag taccattaca cgctgttaaa
gttgtcgatc ctacaacagg 1140aaaaattttg gggccaaatg aacctggaga
attgtatttt aaaggcccga tgataatgaa 1200gggttattat aataatgaag
aagctactaa agcaattatt gataatgacg gatggttgcg 1260ctctggtgat
attgcttatt atgacaatga tggccatttt tatattgtgg acaggctgaa
1320gtcactgatt aaatataaag gttatcaggt tgcacctgct gaaattgagg
gaatactctt 1380acaacatccg tatattgttg atgccggcgt tactggtata
ccggatgaag ccgcgggcga 1440gcttccagct gcaggtgttg tagtacagac
tggaaaatat ctaaacgaac aaatcgtaca 1500agattatgtt gccagtcaag
tttcaacagc caaatggcta cgtggtgggg tgaaattttt 1560ggatgaaatt
cccaaaggat caactggaaa aattgacaga aaagtgttaa gacaaatgtt
1620agaaaaacac accaatggg 1639
* * * * *
References