Near-Infrared Bioluminescence Imaging with a through-Bond Energy Transfer Cassette

The cover feature picture shows the unique substrate we synthesized that reacts with a bioluminescence reporter (Renilla luciferase) and emits near infrared (NIR) light by binding within the active site of the luciferase. The substrate consists of coelenterazine (CTZ) and Cy5, whose linkage allows characteristic through-bond energy transfer (TBET) between the two components. The substrate has biocompatibility in biological imaging contexts. This is the first example of achieving NIR-TBET spectra through a dye-conjugated CTZ. More information can be found in the communication by S. B. Kim, K. Suzuki, et al.