The calcium-binding photoprotein clytin II: Expression of the preferred human codon-optimized clytin II gene in Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells and its use in the G-protein-coupled receptor assays

Clytin II (CLII) is a Ca²⁺-binding photoprotein and has been identified as an isotype of clytin I (CLI). CLII consists of apoCLII (an apoprotein) and 2-peroxide of coelenterazine (an adduct of molecular oxygen to coelenterazine), which is identical to the widely used Ca²⁺-binding photoprotein, aequorin (AQ). However, CLII triggered by Ca²⁺ exhibits a 4.5-fold higher maximum luminescence intensity (I_max) compared to both AQ and CLI, and it is approximately 5 times less sensitive to Ca²⁺ than AQ. To confirm the suitability of the preferred human codon-optimized CLII (pCLII) gene for cell-based G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) assays, a transformant stably expressing apoprotein of pCLII using the pCLII gene in the mitochondria of CHO–K1 cells was established and in situ regenerated pCLII in the cells were applied to the high-throughput screening system. An ATP-stimulated GPCR assay for endogenous P2Y purinergic receptors was confirmed using the established stable transformant.