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Updated: Oct 11, 2026

High-throughput Titration of Luciferase-expressing Recombinant Viruses
Published on: September 19, 2014
Synthesis and characterization of valyloxy methoxy luciferin for the detection of valacyclovirase and peptide
Zachary F Walls1, Sheeba Varghese Gupta1, Gordon L Amidon1
1Center for Molecular Drug Targeting (CMDT), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.
Abstract:
An amino acid ester derivative of luciferin (valoluc) was synthesized to mimic the transport and activation of valacyclovir. This molecule was characterized in vitro for specificity and enzymatic constants, and then assayed in two different, physiologically-relevant conditions. It was demonstrated that valoluc activation is sensitive to the same cellular factors as valacyclovir and thus has the potential to elucidate the dynamics of amino acid ester prodrug therapies in a functional, high-throughput manner.

