The role of energy transfer in bioluminescence quenching by xanthene dyes

The paper reports the experimental results of bioluminescence quenching in the coupled enzyme system NADH:FMN-oxidoreductase-luciferase in the presence of xanthene dyes (fluorescein, eosin Y, erythrosin B) featured by the rate constants of intersystem crossing. From the spectral data and with the help of kinetic model the rate constants of energy transfer from emitter to dye were determined (2.9 × 1012–6.5 × 1013 M−1 s−1) and the emitter lifetime was estimated (1.2–2.7 ns). The calculated rate constants of energy transfer in a series of xanthene molecules are higher than the diffusion-controlled constants. The rate constants of energy transfer correlate with the probability of intersystem crossing of a dye. The combined analysis of emitter fluorescence quenching and acceptor fluorescence enhancement indicates that the significant bioluminescence intensity decrease in the presence of xanthene dyes is determined by both the quenching processes via the energy transfer and the inhibition of bioluminescent reaction.