BRG Publications

Publications

"Crystal Structure of Firefly Luciferase in a Second Catalytic Conformation Supports a Domain Alternation Mechanism," J. A. Sundlov, D. M. Fontaine, T. L. Southworth, B. R. Branchini, and A. M. Gulick, Biochemistry 51: 6493–6495 (2012).

Designing Quantum Rods for Optimized Energy Transfer with Firefly Luciferase Enzymes," R. Alam, D. Fontaine, B. Branchini and M. Maye, Nano Letters: 3251-3256 (2012).

A Portable Bioluminescence Engineered Cell-Based Biosensor for On-Site Applications," A. Roda, L. Cevenini E. Michelini and B. R. Branchini, Biosensors and Bioelectronics 26: 3647-3653 (2011).

"Sequential Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer-Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer-Based Ratiometric Protease Assays with Fusion Proteins of Firefly Luciferase and Red Fluorescent Protein," B. R. Branchini, J. C. Rosenberg, D. M. Ablamsky, K. P. Taylor*, T. L. Southworth and S. J. Linder*, Analytical Biochemistry 414: 239-245 (2011).

"Sensitive Dual-Color In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging Using a New Red Codon Optimized Firefly Luciferase and a Green Click Beetle Luciferase," L Messanotte, E. Kaijzel, B. Branchini, A. Roda and C. Lowik, PloS ONE (www.plosone.org) 6 (4): e19277 (2011).

“Bioluminescence Is Produced from a Trapped Firefly Luciferase Conformation Predicted by the Domain Alternation Mechanism,” B. R. Branchini, J. C. Rosenberg, D. M. Fontaine, T. L. Southworth, C. E. Behney, and L. Uzasci*, Journal of the American Chemical Society 133: 11088-11091 (2011).

Bioluminescence Is Produced from a Trapped Firefly Luciferase Conformation Predicted by the Domain Alternation Mechanism,” B. R. Branchini, J. C. Rosenberg, D. M. Fontaine, T. L. Southworth, C. E. Behney, and L. Uzasci*, Journal of the American Chemical Society 133: 11088-11091 (2011).

"Sequential Bioluminescence Resonance Energy-Transfer-Fluorescence Resonance EnergyTransfer-Based Ratiometric Protease Assays with Fusion Proteins of Firefly Luciferase and Red Fluorescent Protein," B. R. Branchini, J. C. Rosenberg, D. M. Ablamsky, K. P. Taylor*, T. L. Southworth and S. J. Linder*, Analytical Biochemistry 414: 239-245 (2011).

"Sensitive Dual-Color In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging Using a New Red Codon Optimized Firefly Luciferase and a Green Click Beetle Luciferase," L Messanotte, I. Que, E. Kaijzel, B. Branchini, A. Roda and C. Lowik, PLoS ONE (http://www.plosone.org/) 6 (4): e192777 (2011).

"A Portable Bioluminescence Engineered Cell-Based Biosensor for On-Site Applications," A. Roda, L. Cevenini E. Michelini and B. R. Branchini, Biosensors and Bioelectronics 26: 3647-3653 (2011).

"Isolated Luciferase Gene of L. italica," Bruce R. Branchini, Tara L. Southworth, Jennifer P. DeAngelis, Aldo Roda and Elisa Michelini, US Patent number 7,807,429 B2, October 5, 2010.

"Isolated Luciferase Gene of L. italica," Bruce R. Branchini, Tara L. Southworth, Jennifer P. DeAngelis, Aldo Roda and Elisa Michelini, European Patent number EP 2 002 007 B1, September 29, 2010.

"Biotechnological Improvements of Bioluminescent Systems," K. T. Hamorsky, E. Dikici, C. M. Ensor, S. Daunert, A. L. Davis and B. R. Branchini. In Chemiluminescence and Bioluminescence Past, Present and Future, edited by A. Roda, RSC Publishing, pp. 443-487, 2010 (ISBN 978-1-84755-812-1).

"Chemically Modified Firefly Luciferase Is an Efficient Source of Near-Infrared Light," B. R. Branchini, D. M. Ablamsky, and J. C. Rosenberg, Bioconjugate Chemistry 21 (11), 2023-2030 (2010).

"In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging for the Study of Intestinal Colonization by Escherichia coli in Mice," M.-L. Foucault, L. Thomas, S. Goussard, B. R. Branchini, and C. Grillot-Courvalin, Applied and Environmental Microbiology 76 (1): 264-274 (2010).

"In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging of Murine Xenograft Cancer Models with a Red-shifted Thermostable Luciferase," L. Mezzanotte, R. Fazzina, E. Michelini, R. Tonelli, A. Pession, B. Branchini and A. Roda, Molecular Imaging and Biology 12 (4): 406-414 (2010).

"Red-Emitting Luciferases for Bioluminescence Reporter and Imaging Applications," B. R. Branchini, D. M. Ablamsky, A. L. Davis*, T. L. Southworth, B. Butler, F. Fan, A. P. Jathoul and M. A. Pule, Analytical Biochemistry 396 (2): 290-297 (2010).

"The Effects of Elevated Osmotic Concentration on Control of Germination in the Gemmules of Freshwater Sponges Eunapius fragilis and Anheteromeyania ryderi," S. H. Loomis, A. Bettridge and B. R. Branchini, Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 82: 388-395 (2009).

"A Redshifted Codon-Optimized Firefly Luciferase is a Sensitive Reporter for Bioluminescence Imaging," Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences, " H. Caysa, R. Jacob, N. Müther, B. Branchini, M. Messerle and A. Söling, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 8: 52-56 (2009).)

"Combining Intracellular and Secreted Bioluminescent Reporter Proteins for Multicolor Cell-Based Assays," E. Michelini, L. Cevenini, L. Mezzanotte, D. Ablamsky, T. Southworth, B. R. Branchini and A. Roda, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 7: 212-217 (2008). )

"Spectral-Resolved Gene Technology for Multiplexed Bioluminescence and High-Content Screening," E. Michelini, L. Cevenini, L. Mezzanotte, D. Ablamsky, T. Southworth, B. Branchini and A. Roda, Anal. Chem. 80: 260-267 (2008).)

"Synergistic Mutations Produce Blue-Shifted Bioluminescence in Firefly Luciferase," B. Branchini, D. Ablamsky, J. Rosenman*, L. Uzasci*, T. Southworth and M. Zimmer, Biochemistry 46: 13847-13855 (2007). )

"Development of a Multiplexed Bioluminescent Cell-based Assay wit the Luc Gene from Luciola italica for High Throughput Screening of Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs." E. Michelini, T. L. Southworth, D. Ablamsky, B. R. Branchini and A. Roda, in Proceedings of the 14th International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence: Chemistry Biology and Applications, San Diego, CA, October 15-19, 2006, edited by A. A. Szalay, P. J. Hill, L. J. Kricka and P. E. Stanley, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., Singapore, pp. 119-122, 2007.)

"Thermostable red and green light-producing firefly luciferase mutants for bioluminescent reporter applications," B. R. Branchini, D. M. Ablamsky, M. H. Murtiashaw, L. Uzasci*, H. Fraga and T. Southworth, Analytical Biochemistry 361 (2): 253-262 (2007). )

"Luciferase from the Italian Firefly Luciola italica: Molecular Cloning ad Expression," B. R. Branchini, T. L. Southworth, J. P. DeAngelis*, A. Roda and E. Michelini, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B, 145 (2): 159-167 (2006).)

“Mutagenesis Evidence that the Partial Reactions of Firefly Cioluminsecence are Catalyzed by Different Conformations of the Luciferase C-Terminal Domain.” B. R. Branchini, T. L. Southworth, M. H. Murtiashaw, S. R. Wilkinson, N. F. Khattak, J. C. Rosenberg, M. Zimmer. Biochemistry 44: 1385-1393 (2005)

Student Poster

1. H.E. Jessica Yi; D. M. Fontaine, and B. R. Branchini, “A Firefly Luciferase-Based Turn-On Sensor for Biothiols,” to be presented at NURDS 2012, 4^th annual Northeast Undergraduate Research and Development Symposium, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, Mar. 10-11, 2012.

Student Honors Thesis

1. Kelsey Taylor, "Studies of Firefly Luciferase: Development of a Radiometric BRET-FRET-based Factor Xa Protease Assay and Attempts to Chemically Trap Luciferase in the Second Partial Conformation, May 2011.

Public Affairs

1. "Syracuse University researchers use nanotechnology to harness the power of fireflies," article published in The College of Arts and Sciences News, Syracuse University, June 18, 2012.

2. "Professor Earns Connecticut College its First Patent," article in Connecticut College Current News website, Feb. 9, 2011.

Grant Awards

Our work is supported by the National Science Foundation (MCB0842831), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-10-1-0174) and the Hans Ella McCollum ’21 Vahlteich Endowment.

Patents

U.S. Patent No. 7,807,429 was issued on October 5, 2010 for an enhanced version of an Italian firefly's light emitting protein, engineered by Bruce Branchini, Connecticut College's Hans and Ella McCollum '21 Vahlteich Professor of Chemistry, and his research team. The college has also been issued a European patent (No. 2 002 007 B1) based on the U.S. patent. This patent has been exclusively licensed to Targeting Systems, Inc.

United States Provisional Application No. 61/651,497 Title: Chimeric Luciferaces;?Filing Date: May 24, 2012

Jessica Yi presents a poster at NURDS, the 4^th annual Northeast Undergraduate Research and Development Symposium at New England College in 2012.