Disturbance of firefly luciferase-based bioassays by different aluminum species

Anal Biochem. 2016 Jul 1:504:27-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2016.03.019. Epub 2016 Apr 6.

Abstract

Luciferase-dependent assays, important for biochemical analyses of cytotoxicity and reporter genes, may be perturbed by compounds interfering with the luciferase reaction. We analyzed the impact of different aluminum (Al) species on a luciferase-based assay for determination of cellular adenosine triphosphate. Al(0) nanoparticles (Al(0)-NPs) but not Al2O3-NPs decreased luminescence, correlated to high absorbance of Al(0)-NPs. By contrast, Al ions increased the luminescent signal. Data demonstrate that luciferase-dependent assays can be reciprocally disturbed by Al-NPs or Al ions in a specific manner, depending on the particular Al species. Careful interpretation of data from such experiments is essential in order to obtain conclusive results.

Keywords: ATP determination; Caco-2 cells; Cytotoxicity testing; Nanoparticle; Reporter assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / analysis
  • Aluminum / chemistry
  • Aluminum / metabolism
  • Aluminum / pharmacology*
  • Aluminum Oxide / chemistry
  • Aluminum Oxide / metabolism
  • Aluminum Oxide / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Biological Assay*
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Luciferases, Firefly / genetics
  • Luciferases, Firefly / metabolism*
  • Luminescent Measurements*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Aluminum
  • Luciferases, Firefly
  • Aluminum Oxide