Thr226 is a key residue for bioluminescence spectra determination in beetle luciferases.

The comparison of click beetle and railroadworm luciferases (pH-insensitive) with firefly luciferases (pH-sensitive) showed a set of conserved residues differing between the two groups which could be involved with the bioluminescence spectra pH sensitivity. The substitution C258V in Pyrocoelia miyako (Pml) firefly luciferase and V255C in Ragophthalmus ohbai railroad worm luciferase (Rol) had no effect on the bioluminescence spectra. Substitution of Thr226 in the green-light-emitting luciferases of Rol and Pyrearinus termitilluminans (Pyt) click beetle luciferases resulted in red-shifts (12 to 35 nm), whereas the substitution T226N in the red-light-emitting luciferase of Phrixothrix hirtus (PhRE) railroadworm resulted in a 10 nm blue-shift. In PmL the substitution N230S resulted in a typical red mutant (lambda(max) = 611 nm). The bioluminescence spectrum of all these luciferase mutants did not show altered pH-sensitivity nor considerably changed half-bandwidth in relation to the wild-type luciferases. Altogether present data suggest that Thr226 is an important residue for keeping active-site core in both groups of beetle luciferases. The mechanism for bioluminescence color determination between pH-sensitive and pH-insensitive luciferases could be different.

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