Issue 50, 2018

Application of lanthanide luminescence in probing enzyme activity

Abstract

Enzymes play critical roles in the regulation of cellular function and are implicated in numerous disease conditions. Reliable and practicable assays are required to study enzyme activity, to facilitate the discovery of inhibitors and activators of enzymes related to disease. In recent years, a variety of enzyme assays have been devised that utilise luminescent lanthanide(III) complexes, taking advantage of their high detection sensitivities, long luminescence lifetimes, and line-like emission spectra that permit ratiometric and time-resolved analyses. In this Feature article, we focus on recent progress in the development of enzyme activity assays based on lanthanide(III) luminescence, covering a variety of strategies including Ln(III)-labelled antibodies and proteins, Ln(III) ion encapsulation within defined peptide sequences, reactivity-based Ln(III) probes, and discrete Ln(III) complexes. Emerging approaches for monitoring enzyme activity are discussed, including the use of anion responsive lanthanide(III) complexes, capable of molecular recognition and luminescence signalling of polyphosphate anions.

Graphical abstract: Application of lanthanide luminescence in probing enzyme activity

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
09 Apr 2018
Accepted
10 May 2018
First published
15 May 2018

Chem. Commun., 2018,54, 6635-6647

Application of lanthanide luminescence in probing enzyme activity

S. H. Hewitt and S. J. Butler, Chem. Commun., 2018, 54, 6635 DOI: 10.1039/C8CC02824A

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