Mechanism of inhibition of bacterial luciferase by anaesthetics

The effects of volatile anaesthetics on bacterial luciferase were studied in vitro . It was shown that the concentration of anaesthetic required to inhibit the reaction velocity by 50% was similar to that required to reduce light output by 50% in vivo and this concentration was also in the clinical range for each agent. A kinetic response suggestive of competitive inhibition is occuring at the aldehyde binding site on the luciferase and it is postulated that this is related to the very hydrophobic nature of this site.