Chaetopterus Luciferase: A Promising Tool for Online Lipid Peroxidation Detection

Lipid peroxidation plays a crucial role in living organisms. On the one hand, it contributes to the biosynthesis of several hormones; on the other, it can damage cellular structures, induce cell death, and participate in the pathogenesis of numerous human diseases. Therefore, the development of methods for real-time monitoring of lipid peroxidation, particularly within living systems, represents a highly relevant scientific goal. We previously demonstrated that peroxides of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or PUFA-containing lipids serve as substrates for <i>Chaetopterus</i> luciferase. Further studies revealed that the luminescence of this enzyme results from the decomposition products of PUFA peroxides or related lipids. Moreover, analogous luminescence-inducing products are generated during both enzymatic and chemical peroxidation of PUFAs or PUFA-containing lipids. Collectively, these findings indicate that <i>Chaetopterus</i> luciferase is a promising tool for online detection of lipid peroxidation.