Method for extending light-emitting time of calcium-binding photoprotein solution

Abstract

Methods for extending light-emitting time of a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein that instantaneously emits light by binding to calcium ions are provided. In the light-emitting reaction system of a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein, a light-emitting reaction is performed in the presence of an anion capable of binding to the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion and/or a cation that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein with a lower affinity than the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to methods for extending light-emitting time of calcium-binding photoprotein solution that instantaneously emits light by binding to calcium ions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Calcium ion-binding photoproteins instantaneously emit light by reacting specifically with calcium ions or cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions. Especially, among calcium-binding photoproteins, most detailed studies have been conducted on aequorin, a typical calcium-binding photoprotein, which is widely used for detection of a trace amount of calcium ions. Aequorin is present as a complex composed of the apoprotein apoaequorin, the luminescent substrate coelenterazine, and oxygen (coelenterazine peroxide). When calcium ions bind to aequorin molecules, a blue light (maximum wave length: 460 nm) emission takes place instantaneously; and coelenteramide, an oxide of a coelenterazine, and carbon dioxide are released. It is known that the luminous wavelengths of other calcium ion-binding photoproteins are 470 to 490 nm due to the effect of amino acid residues contributing to stabilization of excited coelenteramide. Like aequorin, they generate coelenteramide and carbon dioxide after emitting light, indicating that they have the same luminescence mechanism as aequorin.

By analyzing the gene encoding apoaequorin, the apoprotein of aequorin, it was reported that apoaequorin is composed of 189 amino acids, has a homologous sequence with the calcium-binding protein calmodulin, and has three E-F hand motifs that have helix-loop-helix structure for calcium binding (Inouye et al. (1985), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 3154-3158). Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis that apoaequorin has three E-F hand structures that can bind calcium. In addition, it was suggested that the 184th tyrosine residue near the C-terminus is involved in stabilization of coelenterazine peroxide; it was inferred that binding of a calcium ion to an EF hand makes peroxide unstable, triggering light emission (Head, J. F., Inouye, S., Teranishi, K. and Shimomura, O. (2000) Nature, 405, 372-376).

Another calcium-binding photoprotein obelin is about 75% homologous with aequorin in primary structure. The results of X-ray crystallographic analysis using recombinant obelin have revealed that aequorin and obelin have almost the same higher-order structure and that the type of the amino acid residue involved in stabilization of peroxide of coelenterazine serving as emission source is tyrosine in both of the proteins. (Deng, L., Vysotski, E. S., Liu, Z.-J., Markova, S. V., Malikova, N. P., Lee, J., Rose, J. and Wang, B.-C. (2001) FEBS Lett. 506, 281-285).

These photoproteins are highly sensitive to calcium ions; regarding their luminous sensitivity, as low as 1 picogram or less of calcium ions can be detected. These photoproteins have therefore been used for detection and quantification of trace calcium ions and as imaging probes for visualization of dynamic changes in intracellular calcium ions. Luminescence of calcium-binding photoproteins has advantages that the background signal that causes a problem in ordinary chemiluminescence is virtually absent since calcium-binding photoproteins emit light by specific binding to calcium ions; and that a signal with a favorable signal/noise (S/N) ratio can be rapidly obtained since their luminescent reaction itself is instantaneous, going to completion within a few seconds.

However, since, by just coming in contact with a subtle quantity of calcium ions (10⁻⁷ mole/liter or more), calcium-binding photoproteins instantaneously emit light and the emission quenches, it has previously been impossible to maintain light emission as long as 1 minute. For example, when 1 nanogram of aequorin comes in contact with calcium ions, its light emission quenches within 10 seconds. Accordingly, when a calcium-binding photoprotein alone is used, it instantaneously emits light but cannot keep emitting light for a long time. Thus, for extending light-emitting time of calcium-binding photoproteins alone, methods of increasing the viscosity of calcium-binding photoprotein solution have been developed. For increasing the viscosity, the method (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-193898) of increasing the concentration of calcium-binding photoprotein in the solution and the method (Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-205403) of increasing the viscosity of the solvent have been proposed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to provide new methods for extending light-emitting time of calcium-binding photoprotein solution that instantaneously emits light.

The present invention encompasses the following:

1. A method for extending light-emitting time in making a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein emit light using a calcium ion or a cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion,

including performing a light-emitting reaction in the presence of an anion capable of binding to the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion.

2. A method for extending light-emitting time in making a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein emit light using a calcium ion or a cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion,

including performing a light-emitting reaction in the presence of a cation that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein with a lower affinity than the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein.

3. A method for extending light-emitting time in making a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein emit light using a calcium ion or a cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion,

including performing a light-emitting reaction in the presence of both an anion capable of binding to the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion and a cation that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein with a lower affinity than the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein.

4. The method of 1 or 3, wherein the anion is a sulfate ion.

5. The method of 2 or 3, wherein the cation that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein is a magnesium ion or a zinc ion.

6. The method of any one of 1 to 5, wherein the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion is a strontium ion or a cadmium ion.

7. The method of any one of 1 to 6, wherein the calcium-binding photoproteins is a protein composed of an apoprotein and a peroxide of a coelenterazine or an analog thereof.

8. The method of 7, wherein the coelenterazine or the analog thereof is represented in the following formula (1) or (2): wherein

R¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted arylated alkyl group, or a straight or branched chain alkyl group that may be substituted for an aliphatic cyclic group;

R² is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted arylated alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl alkenyl group, a straight or branched chain alkyl group that may be substituted for an aliphatic cyclic group, a straight or branched chain alkenyl group that may be substituted for an aliphatic cyclic group, or a heterocyclic group;

R³ is a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group;

X¹ is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, an alkoxyl group, or an amino group;

X² is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group; and

Y is a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

9. The method of 8,

wherein, in the formula (1) or formula (2),

R¹ is an unsubstituted aryl group, an unsubstituted arylated alkyl group, an arylated alkyl group substituted for a hydroxyl group or a halogen atom, or a straight or branched chain alkyl group that may be substituted for a cyclohexyl group;

R² is an unsubstituted aryl group, an aryl group substituted for a hydroxyl group, an unsubstituted arylated alkyl group, an arylated alkyl group substituted for a hydroxyl group, an unsubstituted aryl alkenyl group, an unsubstituted straight or branched chain alkyl group, a straight chain alkyl group that may be substituted for an aliphatic cyclic group, a branched chain alkenyl group, or a heterocyclic group containing sulfur;

R³ is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or 2-hydroxyethyl group;

X¹ is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a fluorine atom, a methoxy group, or an amino group; and

Y is a methylene group, ethylene group, a propylene group, or a vinylene group.

10. The method of 9,

wherein, in the formula (1) or (2),

R¹ is a phenyl group, a benzyl group, a p-hydroxybenzyl group, a p-fluorobenzyl group, a p-chlorobenzyl group, a p-bromobenzyl group, a p-iodinebenzyl group, a 3, 4-difluorobenzyl group, a pentafluorobenzyl group, a phenylethyl group, a phenylpropyl group, a naphthylmethyl group, a cyclohexylmethyl group, a methyl group, a 1-methylpropyl group, or a 2-methylpropyl group;

and R² is a phenyl group, a p-hydroxy phenyl group, a benzyl group, an α-hydroxybenzyl group, a phenylethyl group, a phenylvinyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a cyclohexylmethyl group, a cyclohexylethyl group, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a 2-methylpropyl group, a 2-methylpropenyl group, an adamantylmethyl group, a cyclopentylmethyl group, or a thiophene-2-yl group.

11. The method of any one of 7 to 10, wherein, in a molecule of the calcium-binding photoprotein, the ratio of the number of molecules of the apoprotein to the number of molecules of the peroxide of the coelenterazine or the analog thereof is 1:1.

12. The method of 7 to 10, wherein the apoprotein is an apoprotein having the amino acid sequences shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 4 or a mutant apoprotein in which one or more amino acids are deleted, substituted, or added in the sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 4.

13. The method of any one of 1 to 11, wherein the calcium-binding photoprotein is a protein selected from the group consisting of aequorin, clytin, obelin, mitrocomin, mineopsin, and bervoin.

14. A kit for extending light-emitting time in making a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein emit light using a calcium ion or a cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion, including:

a first solution containing the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion;

and at least one of a second solution containing an anion capable of binding to the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion and a third solution containing a cation that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein with a lower affinity than the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein.

15. The kit of 14, wherein the anion is a sulfate ion.

16. The kit of 14 or 15, wherein the cation that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein is a magnesium ion or a zinc ion.

17. The kit of any one of 14 to 16, wherein the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion is a strontium ion or a cadmium ion.

18. The kit of any one of 14 to 17, wherein the calcium-binding photoprotein is a protein selected from the group consisting of aequorin, clytin, obelin, mitrocomin, mineopsin, and bervoin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the light-emission patterns of aequorin when ammonium sulfate is contained in the light-emitting reaction system of aequorin at 1 mM, 600 mM, and 1200 mM in an example according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the light-emission patterns of aequorin when magnesium sulfate is contained in the light-emitting reaction system at 1 mM, 600 mM, and 1200 mM in an example according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the light-emission patterns of aequorin when magnesium chloride is contained in the light-emitting reaction system at 1 mM, 600 mM, and 1200 mM in an example according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the light-emission patterns of aequorin when ammonium sulfate at 300 mM and magnesium chloride at 0.5 mM, 300 mM, and 600 mM are contained in the light-emitting reaction system in an example according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the proportional relationship between the quantity of aequorin and the maximum luminescence intensity in the presence of 1500 mM ammonium sulfate in an example according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides methods for extending light-emitting time when making calcium-binding photoprotein solution emit light using calcium ions or cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions.

Unless otherwise explained, methods described in standard sets of protocols such as J. Sambrook and E. F. Fritsch & T. Maniatis (Ed.), “Molecular Cloning, a Laboratory Manual (3rd edition), Cold Spring Harbor Press and Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (2001); and F. M. Ausubel, R. Brent, R. E. Kingston, D. D. Moore, J. G. Seidman, J. A. Smith, and K. Struhl (Ed.), “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology,” John Wiley & Sons Ltd., or their modified/refined methods are used. When using commercial reagent kits and measuring apparatus, unless otherwise explained, protocols attached to them are used.

The objective, characteristics, and advantages of the present invention as well as the idea thereof are apparent to those skilled in the art from the descriptions given herein. It is to be understood that the embodiments and specific examples of the invention described hereinbelow are to be taken as preferred examples of the present invention. These descriptions are only for illustrative and explanatory purposes and are not intended to restrict the invention to these embodiments or examples. It is further apparent to those skilled in the art that various refinements and modifications may be made based on the descriptions given herein within the intent and scope of the present invention disclosed herein.

(1) Apoprotein that Constitutes a Calcium-Binding Photoprotein

A “calcium-binding photoprotein” refers to a protein that reacts with calcium ions or cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions and emits light. The examples include aequorin, clytin, obelin, mitrocomin, mineopsin, and bervoin.

These calcium-binding photoproteins are composed of an apoprotein and peroxide of coelenterazine or its analog.

Table 1 lists the apoproteins whose gene has been isolated to date.

TABLE 1
Name of		Japanese name/	GeneBank
photoprotein	Scientific name	Common name	Acc. No.	Authors (year)
Aequorin	Aequorea victoria	Owankurage	AEVAQ440X: L29571	Inouye et al. (1985)
Aequorin	Aequorea victoria	Owankurage	—	Charbonnueau et al. (1985)
Aequorin	Aequorea victoria	Owankurage	AEVAEQA: M16103	Prasher et al. (1987)
Aequorin	Aequorea parva	Owankurage	AY013822	Luo et al. (2000)
Aequorin	Aequorea macrodactyla	Hitomoshikurage	AY013823	Luo et al. (2000)
Clytin	Clytiagregarium	Kozarakurage	CY1APOCLYT: L13247	Inouye & Tsuji (1993)
Mitrocomin	Mitrocoma cellularia		MITMI17: L31623	Fagan et al. (1993)
Obelin	Obelia longissima	Oberiakurage	OLU07128: U07128	Illarionov et al. (1995)
Obelin	Obelia geniculata	Oberiakurage	AF394688	Markova et al. (2002)

The homology of the amino acid sequences of these apoproteins is 60% or higher, and all of these apoproteins can be regenerated to calcium-binding photoproteins from the luminescent substrate coelenterazine. Further, recent x-ray crystal analysis of aequorin and obelin, both of which are photoproteins, has revealed that the backbone structures of their higher-order structures are almost the same. From this, homology of the higher-order structures of other calcium-binding photoproteins can easily be inferred by analogy. Thus, although aequorin, a typical calcium-binding photoprotein, was used in Examples herein, the results obtained can be obviously applicable to other calcium-binding photoproteins.

Aequorin can be regenerated from apoaequorin, the luminescent substrate coelenterazine, and oxygen, as mentioned above. Here, by using a coelenterazine analog in place of coelenterazine, a novel photoprotein referred to as a semi-synthesized aequorin with different luminous wavelengths and calcium-binding ability can be created. Other calcium-binding photoproteins can also be used to create a novel photoprotein. The results of X-ray crystallographic analyses of semi-synthesized aequorin have shown that its basic structure is also almost the same as that of aequorin.

The amino acid sequence of the apoaequorin that is the apoprotein of natural aequorin is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing. Besides the apoaequorin having amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1, any apoaequorin mutant can be used whether it may be known or unknown as long as it is capable of constituting a calcium-binding photoprotein. The apoaequorin used in the present invention thus includes the apoaequorin having the amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1 as well as mutant apoaequorins in which one or more amino acids are deleted, substituted, or added in the amino acid sequence described n SEQ ID NO: 1. One example of a particularly preferred mutant apoaequorin is the mutant in which the first Val is substituted for Ala-Asn-Ser in SEQ ID NO: 1.

The amino acid sequence of the apoclytin that is the apoprotein of the wild-type clytin, is shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the sequence listing. The amino acid sequence of the apoobelin that is the apoprotein of the wild-type obelin, is shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 in the sequence listing. The amino acid sequence of the apomitrocomin that is the apoprotein of the wild-type mitrocomin, is shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the sequence listing. These may be mutants in which one or more amino acids are deleted, substituted, or added in each of the sequences.

These apoproteins may be either prepared from the nature or produced by genetic engineering. In addition, the amino acid sequence of the calcium-binding photoprotein may be mutated by gene recombination technology, as long as it has the aforementioned luminescence activity.

(2) Method for Emitting Light of Calcium-Binding Photoprotein Solution

In this invention, the preferred cations that can be substituted for calcium ions are divalent or trivalent cations. Examples of such cations include cadmium ions, strontium ions, or lead ions. Cations are not limited to any specific ones as long as they bind to and activate a calcium-binding photoprotein, thereby making it emit light.

The solvent used for calcium-binding photoprotein solution is not limited to any specific one as long as it is a fluid in which a calcium-binding photoprotein can emit light. It may be, for example, an artificial fluid, a natural fluid, or a body fluid. To make extension of light-emitting time much longer, the viscosity of the solvent may be increased by adding a water-absorbing polymer gel composition (Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-205403). Examples of the water-absorbing polymer gel compositions include, for example, starches, celluloses, and synthetic polymers, any of which can be used. Synthetic polymers include polyacrylates, polyvinyl alcohols, polyacrylamides, and polyoxyethylenes, any of which can be used.

Although preferred concentrations of a calcium-binding photoprotein in a solution are 0.1 to 10 mg/ml, emission time can be extended much longer by increasing the concentration to 10 to 500 mg/ml (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-193898). When calcium ions or cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions are added to a solution of these calcium-binding photoprotein, the calcium-binding photoprotein is instantanesouly activated, reacts with the calcium ions or cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions, and the conformation of the apoprotein changes all at once. Then, peroxide of coelenterazine or its analog is oxidized and released as coelenteramide or its analog. In this reaction, the calcium-binding photoprotein instantaneously emits light and the emission quenches by just adding a subtle quantity of calcium ions (10⁻⁷ mole/liter or more) to the solution. For example, when 1 nanogram of aequorin comes in contact with calcium ions, light emission of the solution is completed within 10 seconds.

Light emission time can be extended by performing the above-mentioned light-emitting reaction in the presence of anions capable of binding to the calcium ions or cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions and/or cations that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein with a lower affinity than the calcium ions or the cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein. Under optimal conditions, the emission time can be extended to 6 hours.

The anions capable of binding to the calcium ions or cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions are not limited to any specific ones as long as emission time can be extended when the anions (e.g., sulfate ions and carbonate ions) are added to the solution in which a light-emitting reaction is performed. Preferred ion concentrations are 0.6 to 1.5M, but are not particularly limited to this range. These anions inhibit calcium ions or cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions from approaching to the calcium-binding photoprotein by binding to the calcium ions or cations. This makes the calcium ions or cations collide less frequently with the calcium-binding photoprotein in the reaction mixture, so that the calcium ions or cations collide gradually with the photoprotein over a long time. As a result, the solution as a whole emits light for a long time, making emission time extend longer than under ordinary conditions.

Further, cations that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein with a lower affinity than the calcium ions or the cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions and without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein include magnesium ions, and zinc ions but are not limited to any specific ones as long as they are satisfied with the above-mentioned conditions. These cations, when present with calcium ions or cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions, competitively bind to the calcium-binding site of a calcium-binding photoprotein but do not react with the calcium-binding photoprotein. Accordingly, the proportion of calcium ions or cations that can be substituted for the calcium ions which bind to the calcium-binding site of the photoprotein decreases, thereby causing the photoprotein in the solution to react gradually. As a result, the solution as a whole emit light for a long time and light-emitting time is extended longer than under ordinary conditions. However, for the reaction mixture to keep emitting light, these cations must be exchanged with calcium ions or cations that can be substituted for the cations which have bound to the calcium-binding site of the photoprotein before being. For this reason, these cations must have a lower affinity with the calcium-binding site of a photoprotein than calcium ions or cation that can be substituted for the calcium ions.

EXAMPLE

The present invention is explained in the following examples, but these examples are not to be construed to limit the present invention.

(1) Preparation of Recombinant Aequorin

As shown below, recombinant aequorins were obtained by expressing the recombinant apoaequorin gene in the E. coli described in Japanese Laid-Open Application No. 1989-132397, regenerating recombinant aequorins by binding the expressed product to coelenterazine, and then purifying the complexes as described in Japanese Laid-Open Application No. 2001-270899. The recombinant apoaequorins thus obtained are composed of 191 amino acids, whose N-terminus starts from Ala-Asn-Ser-(Val- of the N-terminus of SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing was replaced by Ala-Asn-Ser-).

1) Expression of Recombinant Apoaequorins in E. coli

First, to express recombinant apoaequorins in E. coli, the apoaequorin gene expression vector piP-HE (refer to Japanese Laid-Open Application No. 1989-132397) constructed from pAQ440 harboring the apoaequorin gene (refer to Japanese Laid-Open Application No. 1986-135586) was used. E. coli strain WA802 was used as the host and was transformed with piP-HE using the conventional methods. The transformant obtained was incubated at 30° C. overnight, inoculated into 50 ml of LB liquid medium (bactotrypton 1% w/v, yeast extract 0.5% w/v, sodium chloride 0.5% w/v, pH 7.2 in water) containing ampicillin (50 μg/ml), and further incubated at 30° C. for 8 hours. Then, the culture was added to a fresh LB liquid media and incubated at 37° C. at for a day and night (18 hours). After incubation, the resulting culture was separated into bacterial cells and medium by low-speed centrifugation (5,000×g). Since both the bacterial cells and the medium contain expressed recombinant apoaequorins, they were stored separately as the starting material for aequorin purification.

The harvested bacterial cells were suspended in 400 ml buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 10 mM EDTA) containing 200 mg of a reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT, manufactured by Wako Pure Chemicals Industries, Ltd.). The cells were crushed by treating with an ultrasonicator for 2 min under on ice, and centrifuged at 12,000×g for 20 min. Then, the supernatant was recovered. Chemosynthesized coelenterazine was dissolved in a small quantity of methanol, added to the supernatant obtained at 1.2-fold molar concentration of apoaequorin to be produced, and allowed to stand at 4° C. for 5 hours or longer. This supernatant was immediately loaded onto a Q-Sepharose column (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, 2×10 cm diameter) pre-equilibrated with a buffer of 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 10 mM EDTA, to have aequorin adsorbed. The column was washed with a buffer of 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 10 mM EDTA, 0.1 M NaCl until the absorbance of the wash flowing out from the column at 280 nm becomes 0.05 or less. Then, the apoaequorin and aequorin adsorbed on the column were eluted with a linear concentration gradient of 0.1 to 0.4 M NaCl.

2) Isolation of Aequorin that has Formed Complexes

Aequorin that has formed complexes with coelenterazine was isolated from apoaequorin that has not formed complexes, using a hydrophobic chromatography with Butyl Sparse 4 Fast Flow gel. That is, the orange eluent from the Q-Sepharose column was adjusted at final ammonium sulfate concentration at 2 M, and then the precipitant was removed by centrifugation. The supernatant was applied to a Butyl Sepharose 4 Fast Flow column (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, column size: 2×10 cm diameter) pre-equilibrated with 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 10 mM EDTA, containing 2 M ammonium sulfate, and the orange regenerated aequorin fractions having chemiluminescence activity were eluted by a linear concentration gradient to a final ammonium sulfate concentration at 1 M and recovered.

The unregenerated apoaequorin was eluted only with 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 10 mM EDTA. The regenerated aequorin fractions were analyzed by SDS-PAGE using 12% polyacrylamide gel under a reducing condition. As a result, a single band with a molecular weight equivalent to that of a 25 kDa protein was detected in the purified fraction, with a purity of 98% or higher according to densitometer measurement.

The recovery rate of aequorin from the bacterial cells was about 80%. A total of 80 mg of high-purity aequorin was thus obtained.

3) Purification of Aequorin from Culture Media

Meanwhile, high-purity aequorin was purified from the culture medium according to the method described in Japanese Laid-Open Application No. 1989-132397. That is, the culture medium was subjected to acidification treatment to pH 5 or below and allowed to stand at 4° C. for 60 min or longer. The white-precipitated apoaequorin was isolated by centrifugation and dissolved in the above-mentioned buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 10 mM EDTA) containing a reducing agent. Then, after regenerating to aequorin in the same manner as in purification method from bacterial cells, aequorin with a purity of 98% or higher was obtained by the sepharose column chromatography and the Butyl Sepharose 4 Fast Flow column chromatography. The resulting purified aequorin was analyzed by SDS-PAGE using 12% polyacrylamide gel under a reducing condition. As a result, a single band with a molecular weight equivalent to that of a 25 kDa protein was detected with a purity of 98% or higher according to densitometer measurement. A total of 45 mg of high-purity aequorin was obtained from 50 mg of apoaequorin obtained from the culture medium. The amount of proteins was determined using a commercially available kit (manufactured by Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.) based on the Bradford method. Bovine serum albumin (manufactured by Pierce Laboratories Inc.) was used as the standard substance.

(2) Preparation of a Semi-Synthesized Aequorin

Semi-synthesized aequorin was prepared according to the methods described in Japanese Laid-Open Application No. 1989-132397. First, high-purity apoaequorin (10 mg) was dissolved in 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 10 mM EDTA, and chemosynthesized coelenterazine analog dissolved in a small quantity of methanol was added at 1.2-fold molar concentration of apoaequorin. The mixture was allowed to stand at 4° C. for 5 hours or longer to regenerate into semi-synthesized aequorin. This solution was adjusted to a final ammonium sulfate concentration of 2M, applied to a Butyl Sepharose 4 Fast Flow column (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, column size: 2×8 cm diameter) pre-equilibrated with 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 10 mM EDTA, containing 2 M ammonium sulfate, eluted by a linear concentration gradient to a final ammonium sulfate concentration at 1 M. Thus, orange aequorin fractions having chemiluminescence activity were obtained.

(3) Method for Extending Period of Light Emission of the Calcium-Binding Photoprotein Aequorin by Addition of Calcium in the Presence of Various Salts

The salts shown in Table 2 were added to a buffer of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA at a final salt concentration of 0.6 M or 1.2 M. 1.0 μg of the calcium-binding photoprotein aequorin was added to this solution (100 μl) containing each salt. After further addition of a buffer (100 μl) of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA, containing 1 mM calcium chloride and 0.6 M or 1.2 M salt, the mixture was stirred. Then, luminescence activity was measured with the luminometer Luminescencer-PSN AB2200 (manufactured by Atto Co., Ltd.) for 600 seconds. Table 3 shows half-lives (the time taken to fall to 50% of the maximum activity: T_1/2) of luminescence intensity of aequorin produced by calcium ions in the presence of various salts as well as their maximum luminescence intensities.

TABLE 2
Compound	Name of distributor	Product number
Ammonium sulfate	Wako Pure Chemical	019-03435
	Industries, Ltd.
Magnesium sulfate	Wako Pure Chemical	131-00405
	Industries, Ltd.
Zinc sulfate	Wako Pure Chemical	268-00405
	Industries, Ltd.
Potassium sulfate	Kokusan Chemical	2114381
	Co., Ltd.
Ammonium chloride	Wako Pure Chemical	017-02995
	Industries, Ltd.
Magnesium chloride	Wako Pure Chemical	139-09203
	Industries, Ltd.
Strontium chloride	Wako Pure Chemical	195-07361
	Industries, Ltd.
Zinc chloride	Wako Pure Chemical	268-01022
	Industries, Ltd.
Ammonium bicarbonate	Wako Pure Chemical	017-02875
	Industries, Ltd.

	TABLE 3
	Final concentration of	T1/2 (min)	Imax (rlu)
Salts	CaCl2 added (mM)	0.6 M	1.2 M	1.2 M
(NH4)2SO4	0.5	0.12	11.83	15546
MgSO4	0.5	13.22	60.47	1061
ZnSO4	0.5	2.87	7.78	4065
K2SO4	0.5	0.03	N.D.	—
NH4Cl	0.5	0.02	0.02	63211
MgCl2	0.5	7.39	46.73	3944
SrCl2	0.5	0.08	0.08	3891
ZnCl2	0.5	0.18	0.25	591
NH4HCO3	0.5	0.03	0.17	645085
None	0.5	—	0.02	130216
N.D.: Not dissolved
T1/2: Half-life of luminescence intensity
Imax: Maximum luminescence intensity
rlu: Relative luminescence intensity
—: Not measured

As shown in Table 3, when ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, zinc sulfate, magnesium chloride, strontium chloride, zinc chloride, and sodium bicarbonate were added to the reaction system, the luminescence of aequorin was not instantaneous light emission but apparent continuous luminescence, indicating that light emission time was extended. In contrast, the other salts were shown to have no prominent effect of extending emission time of aequorin.

Whenever sulfate ions were added, extension of the light emission time was observed, suggesting that the effect of extending emission time of aequorin exerted by the addition of ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and zinc sulfate was caused by sulfate ions. The mechanism of extending emission time is inferred as follows. As the effect of high-concentration of sulfate ions, dissociative ionic bonds are formed with calcium ions, causing a competitive reaction for calcium ions between sulfate ions and apoaequorin involved in the aequorin luminescence. As a result, the binding efficiency of calcium ions to aequorin decreases, thereby causing apparent shortage of calcium ions to bind to aequorin. This makes calcium ions bind to aequorin gradually, not all at once, and, accordingly, emission time of the solution is extended as a whole.

Meanwhile, ammonium chloride does not have the effect of extending light-emitting time, suggesting that chloride ions have no effect of light extending emission time. Since magnesium chloride has the effect of extending light-emitting time, it is inferred that, here, magnesium ions are responsible for the effect of extending light-emitting time. The fact that magnesium sulfate, used in combination with sulfate ions that have the effect of extending emission time, is the most effective compound for extending light-emitting time supports that magnesium has the effect of extending light-emitting time. The mechanism of extending emission time is inferred as follows in this case. Theoretically, when a high concentration of magnesium ions is contained in the light-emitting reaction system of aequorin, magnesium ions bind to the three calcium ion-bonding sites (EF-hand motifs) in aequorin, competing with calcium ions for aequorin. This reduces the efficiency of binding between calcium ions and aequorin, thereby causing calcium to slowly bind to aequorin. As a result, light-emitting time of the solution as a whole is extended.

(4) Method for Extending Emission Time of the Calcium-Binding Photoprotein Aequorin by Addition of Cadmium in the Presence of Various Salts

The final concentrations of salts shown in Table 2 were adjusted in a buffer of 10 in M Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA to 0.6 or 1.2 M. 1.0 μg of the calcium-binding photoprotein aequorin was added to this solution (100 μl) containing each salt. After further addition of a buffer (100 μl) of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA, containing 1 mM cadmium chloride and 0.6 or 1.2 M salt, the mixture was stirred. Then, Luminescence activity was measured with the luminometer Luminescencer-PSN AB2200 (manufactured by Atto Co., Ltd.) for 600 seconds. Table 4 shows the half-life values (the time required to fall to 50% of the maximum activity: T_1/2) of luminescence intensity of aequorin by calcium ions in the presence of various salts and their maximum luminescence intensities.

	TABLE 4
	Final concentration of	T1/2 (min)	Imax (rlu)
Salts	CdCl2 added (mM)	0.6 M	1.2 M	1.2 M
(NH4)2SO4	0.5	0.38	48.96	9816
MgSO4	0.5	84.88	644.56	640
ZnSO4	0.5	2.33	3.95	7038
MgCl2	0.5	175.06	192.83	406
ZnCl2	0.5	0.17	0.13	1814
None	0.5	—	0.03	147127
T1/2: Half-life of luminescence intensity
Imax: Maximum luminescence intensity
rlu: Relative luminescence intensity
—: Not measured

As a result of comparison of the half-lives of the light emission intensities by the addition of cadmium in the presence of various salts, shown in Table 4, it was found that light-emitting time of aequorin is extended by the addition of any one of ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, zinc sulfate, magnesium chloride, and zinc chloride to the reaction system. It is inferred that the cause of effect of extending emission time of aequorin is the same as that in Example 3.

(5) Method for Extending Light-Emitting Time of the Calcium-Binding Photoprotein Aequorin by Addition of Strontium in the Presence of Various Salts

The final salt concentrations shown in Table 2 were adjusted in a buffer of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA to 0.6 or 1.2 M. 1.0 μg of the calcium-binding photoprotein aequorin was added to this solution (100 μl) containing each salt. After further addition of a buffer (100 μl) of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA containing 1 mM strontium chloride and 0.6 or 1.2 M salt, the mixture was stirred, Then, luminescence activity was measured with the luminometer Luminescencer-PSN AB2200 (manufactured by Atto Co., Ltd.) for 600 seconds. Table 5 shows the half-lives (the time required to fall to 50% of the maximum activity: T1_/2) of luminescence intensity of aequorin by calcium ions in the presence of various salts and their maximum luminescence intensities.

	TABLE 5
	Final concentration of	T1/2 (min)	Imax (rlu)
Salts	SrCl2 added (mM)	0.6 M	1.2 M	1.2 M
(NH4)2SO4	0.5	ppt	ppt	14
MgSO4	0.5	ppt	ppt	26
ZnSO4	0.5	4.60	7.32	2067
MgCl2	0.5	N.D.	N.D.	32
ZnCl2	0.5	0.23	0.10	2245
None	0.5	—	0.03	1327351
T1/2: Half-life of luminescence intensity
Imax: Maximum luminescence intensity
rlu: Relative luminescence intensity
—: Not measured
ppt: Strontium sulfate precipitated
N.D.: Not detectable

As a result of the comparison of the half-lives of the light emission intensities by the addition of strontium in the presence of various salts, it was found that when zinc sulfate and zinc chloride are added to the reaction system, light-emitting time of aequorin is extended. In contrast, the other salts were revealed to have no marked effect of extending emission time of aequorin. The sulfate ions, which were shown to have the effect of extending light-emitting time in Examples 3 and 4, reacts with strontium and thereby become less soluble strontium sulfate, resulting in precipitation. This was considered to be the reason light-emitting reaction did not proceed in the sulfate used here. In magnesium chloride, light-emitting reaction did not proceed either. That is considered to be due to the fact that magnesium ions have higher binding ability to aequorin than strontium ions.

(6) Determination of Optimum Concentrations of the Various Salts Exhibiting the Effect of Extending Light-Emitting Time of the Calcium-Binding Photoprotein Aequorin

The effect of the concentration of ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, or magnesium chloride, which exhibited a marked effect of extending light-emitting time of aequorin, was examined in detail. The final concentration of solutions containing each salt were adjusted to the followings with a buffer of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA: 1, 10, 100, 300, 600, 1000, 1200, and 1500 mM. 1.0 μg of aequorin was added to each salt-containing solution (100 μl). After adding to each of the solutions 100 μl of a solution containing the same concentration of ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, or magnesium chloride containing 1 mM calcium chloride as each solution to be added and stirring, their luminescence activity was measured with the luminometer Luminescencer-PSN AB2200 (manufactured by Atto Co., Ltd.) for 600 seconds. Table 6 shows the half-lives of luminescence intensity and maximum luminescence intensities of aequorin at various concentrations of various salts. The light emission patterns of aequorin solution when it contains ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, or magnesium chloride at 1 mM, 600 mM, and 1200 mM, are shown in FIG. 1, 2, or 3, respectively.

TABLE 6
salt		(NH4)2SO4	MgSO4	MgCl2
level	Finalconcentration of	T1/2	Imax	T1/2	Imax	T1/2	Imax
(mM)	SrCl2 added (mM)	(min)	(rlu)	(min)	(rlu)	(min)	(rlu)
1	0.5	0.02	239162	0.02	308985	0.02	93133
10	0.5	0.02	172331	0.35	342028	0.02	273963
100	0.5	0.02	93504	1.40	103467	0.12	989553
300	0.5	0.03	273684	2.43	57511	0.52	286940
600	0.5	0.12	311088	13.22	10083	7.39	24720
1000	0.5	1.73	94581	29.90	2276	25.79	4550
1200	0.5	11.83	15546	60.47	1061	46.73	3944
1500	0.5	96.95	3320	198.84	528	128.40	1548
1500	0.0	—	41	—	27	—	27
0	0.0	—	31	—	—	—	—
AB-2200 background: 6rlu
T1/2: Half-life of luminescence intensity
Imax: Maximum luminescence intensity
rlu: Relative luminescence intensity
—: Not measured

Table 6 indicates light-emitting time of aequorin lasts longer concentration-dependently when any of the three salts is added. Light emission time of aequorin tended to be extended at 1000 mM for ammonium sulfate, at 100 mM for magnesium sulfate, and at 600 mM for magnesium chloride. Further, it was revealed that the half-life of aequorin luminescence intensity is about 100 min, 200 min, and 130 min in the presence of 1.5 M ammonium sulfate, 1.5 M magnesium sulfate, and 1.5 M magnesium chloride, respectively, indicating that light-emitting time of aequorin was extended drastically longer. Sulfate ions and magnesium ions are involved in the effect of extending light-emitting time of aequorin as described above, but the results of the experiment thus revealed that in the presence of both sulfate ions and magnesium ions, the effect of extending emission time is further enhanced as compared with that in the presence of either sulfate ions or magnesium ions alone. It is therefore concluded that magnesium sulfate is the salt that extends emission time of aequorin most efficiently.

(7) The Synergistic Effect of Magnesium Ions and Sulfate Ions in Light Emission of Aequorin

A buffer of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA, containing 0.6 M ammonium sulfate was prepared. 1.0 μg of aequorin was added to this solution (100 μl). After further addition of 100 μl of a buffer of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA, containing magnesium chloride at each concentration (0.1, 1, 10, 100, 600, 1000, 1200 mM) and 1 mM calcium chloride, the mixture was stirred. Then, luminescence activity was measured with the luminometer Luminescencer-PSN AB2200 (manufactured by Atto Co., Ltd.) for 600 seconds. Table 7 shows the half-lives of luminescence intensity of aequorin at various magnesium chloride concentrations. The light emission patterns of aequorin when it contains magnesium chloride at 0.5 mM, 300 mM, and 600 mM, are shown in FIG. 4.

TABLE 7
MgCl2 (mM)	(NH4)2SO4 (mM)	CaCl2 (mM)	T1/2 (min)	Imax (rlu)
0	300	0.5	0.03	273684
0.05	300	0.5	0.03	428795
0.5	300	0.5	0.03	248486
5	300	0.5	0.07	494370
50	300	0.5	0.58	186115
300	300	0.5	2.60	67567
600	300	0.5	10.70	8092
T1/2: Half-life of luminescence intensity
Imax: Maximum luminescence intensity
rlu: Relative luminescence intensity

The effect of the interaction between magnesium ions and sulfate ions on extension of light-emitting time of aequorin was examined. As a result, it was shown that light-emitting time becomes longer as the magnesium ion concentration increases above 5 mM. As shown in Table 7, when only 300 mM ammonium sulfate was contained, the half-life of emission time of aequorin was 0.03 min; and as shown in Table 6, when only magnesium chloride was contained, the half-life is 0.52 min. In contrast, when both salts (300 mM each) were contained, the half-life of light-emitting time of aequorin was extended to 2.60 min. Further, when only 600 mM magnesium chloride was contained, the half-life was 7.39 min, whereas both 300 mM ammonium sulfate and 600 mM magnesium chloride were added to the light-emitting reaction system, the half-life of light-emitting time of aequorin was 10.70 min. These findings revealed that magnesium ions are more effective than sulfate ions in the effect of extending light-emitting time of aequorin and that the presence of these two ions enhances the effect of extending light-emitting time of aequorin.

(8) Correlation Between the Quantity of the Calcium-Binding Photoprotein Aequorin and Luminescence Intensity

A buffer of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA containing 1.5 mM ammonium sulfate was prepared. 0.1, 0.3, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 μg of aequorin was each added to 100 μl of this solution. After further addition of a buffer (100 μl) of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA containing 1 mM calcium chloride and 1.5 M ammonium sulfate, the mixture was stirred. Then, luminescence activity was measured with the luminometer Luminescencer-PSN AB2200 (manufactured by Atto Co., Ltd.) for 600 seconds. FIG. 5 shows the maximum luminescence intensity value for each quantity of aequorins.

It was found that in the presence of 1.5 M ammonium sulfate, luminescence intensity is enhanced in proportion to the quantity of aequorin. It was thus shown that although luminescence intensity decreases in the presence of salts such as ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium chloride, compared with the intensity of instantaneous light emission of aequorin, strong luminescence intensity can be obtained by increasing the quantity of aequorins.

(9) Method for Extending Light Emission Time of Semi-Synthesized Calcium-Binding Photoprotein Aequorins by Addition of Various Salts

The effect of extending light-emitting time of the semi-synthesized aequorins (h-aequorin and e-aequorin) was examined using ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, or magnesium chloride, all of which exhibited a remarkable effect in extending light-emitting time of aequorin. A buffer of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.1 mM EDTA, containing each salt at 1.5 M, was prepared. 1.0 μg of a semi-synthesized aequorin (h-aequorin or e-aequorin) was added to 100 μl of the salt-containing solution (100 μl). After further addition of 100 μl of 1.5 M ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, or magnesium-chloride solution containing 1 mM calcium chloride, the mixture was stirred. Then, luminescence activity was measured with the luminometer Luminescencer-PSN AB2200 (manufactured by Atto Co., Ltd.) for 600 seconds. Table 8 shows the half-lives of luminescence intensity and maximum luminescence intensities of aequorin in the presence of various salts.

TABLE 8
Semi-	1.5M (NH4)2SO4	1.5M MgSO4	1.5M MgCl2
synthesized	Final concentration	T1/2	Imax	T1/2	Imax	T1/2	Imax
aequorin	of CaCl2 added (mM)	(min)	(rlu)	(min)	(rlu)	(min)	(rlu)
h-Aequorin	0.5	9.31	6163	16.57	2732	7.79	7716
e-Aequorin	0.5	17.72	631	39.15	209	24.92	650
T1/2: Half-life of luminescence intensity
Imax: Maximum luminescence intensity
rlu: Relative luminescence intensity

As a result of comparison of half-lives of the luminescence intensity of the semi-synthesized aequorins in the presence of 1.5 M ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, or magnesium chloride, light-emitting time of the semi-synthesized aequorins tended to be extended in the presence of any of the three salts. It is suggested that, as in the case of aequorin, sulfate ions and magnesium ions play an important role in the effect of extending light-emitting time of semi-synthesized aequorins.

Claims

1. A method for extending light-emitting time in making a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein emit light using a calcium ion or a cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion, comprising performing a light-emitting reaction in the presence of an anion capable of binding to the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion.

2. A method for extending light-emitting time in making a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein emit light using a calcium ion or a cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion, comprising performing a light-emitting reaction in the presence of a cation that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein with a lower affinity than the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein.

3. A method for extending light-emitting time in making a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein emit light using a calcium ion or a cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion, comprising performing a light-emitting reaction in the presence of both an anion capable of binding to the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion and a cation that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein with a lower affinity than the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the anion is a sulfate ion.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the cation that does not activate the calcium-binding photoprotein is a magnesium ion, or a zinc ion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion is a strontium ion or a cadmium ion.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the calcium-binding photoprotein is a protein comprising an apoprotein and a peroxide of a coelenterazine or an analog thereof.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the coelenterazine or the analog thereof is represented in the following formula (1) or (2):

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, in the formula (I) or formula (2), R1 is an unsubstituted aryl group, an unsubstituted arylated alkyl group, an arylated alkyl group substituted for a hydroxyl group or a halogen atom, or a straight or branched chain alkyl group that may be substituted for a cyclohexyl group; R2 is an unsubstituted aryl group, an aryl group substituted for a hydroxyl group, an unsubstituted arylated alkyl group, an arylated alkyl group substituted for a hydroxyl group, an unsubstituted aryl alkenyl group, an unsubstituted straight or branched chain alkyl group, a straight chain alkyl group that may be substituted for an aliphatic cyclic group, a branched chain alkenyl group, or a heterocyclic group containing sulfur; R3 is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or 2-hydroxyethyl group; X1 is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a fluorine atom, a methoxy group, or an amino group; and Y is a methylene group, ethylene group, a propylene group, or a vinylene group.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, in the formula (1) or (2), R1 is a phenyl group, a benzyl group, a p-hydroxybenzyl group, a p-fluorobenzyl group, a p-chlorobenzyl group, a p-bromobenzyl group, a p-iodinebenzyl group, a 3,4-difluorobenzyl group, a pentafluorobenzyl group, a phenylethyl group, a phenylpropyl group, a naphthylmethyl group, a cyclohexylmethyl group, a methyl group, a 1-methylpropyl group, or a 2-methylpropyl group; and R2 is a phenyl group, a p-hydroxy phenyl group, a benzyl group, an α-hydroxybenzyl group, a phenylethyl group, a phenylvinyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a cyclohexylmethyl group, a cyclohexylethyl group, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a 2-methylpropyl group, a 2-methylpropenyl group, an adamantylmethyl group, a cyclopentylmethyl group, or a thiophene-2-yl group.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein, in a molecule of the calcium-binding photoprotein, the ratio of the number of molecules of the apoprotein to the number of molecules of the peroxide of the coelenterazine or the analog thereof is 1:1.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the apoprotein is an apoprotein having the amino acid sequence shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 4 or a mutant apoprotein in which one or more amino acids are deleted, substituted, or added in the sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 4.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the calcium-binding photoprotein is a protein selected from the group consisting of aequorin, clytin, obelin, mitrocomin, mineopsin, and bervoin.

14. A kit for extending light-emitting time in making a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein emit light using a calcium ion or a cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion, comprising: a first solution containing the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion; and at least one of a second solution containing an anion capable of binding to the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion and a third solution containing a cation that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein with a lower affinity than the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein.

15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the anion is a sulfate ion.

16. The kit of claim 14, wherein the cation that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein is a magnesium ion, or a zinc ion.

17. The kit of claim 14, wherein the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion is a strontium ion or a cadmium ion.

18. The kit of claim 14, wherein the calcium-binding photoprotein is a protein selected from the group consisting of aequorin, clytin, obelin, mitrocomin, mineopsin, and bervoin.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion is a strontium ion or a cadmium ion.

20. The method of claim 2, wherein the calcium-binding photoprotein is a protein comprising an apoprotein and a peroxide of a coelenterazine or an analog thereof.

21. The method of claim 2, wherein the calcium-binding photoprotein is a protein selected from the group consisting of aequorin, clytin, obelin, mitrocomin, mineopsin, and bervoin.