Definition and Occurrence of Bioluminescence
– Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms.
– It occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, fungi, microorganisms, and terrestrial arthropods.
– Light can be bacteriogenic (produced by symbiotic bacteria) or autogenic (produced by the animals themselves).
– The chemical reaction in bioluminescence involves a light-emitting molecule (luciferin) and an enzyme (luciferase).
– Luciferins vary little, while luciferases vary widely between different species.
Historical Discoveries and Observations
– Aristotle and Pliny the Elder mentioned the glow from damp wood and dead fish.
– Robert Boyle showed that both wood and glowworms require air for light production.
– J. Baker identified the luminous animal Noctiluca visible to the naked eye.
– Johann Florian Heller identified strands of fungi as a source of light in dead wood.
– Charles Darwin observed bioluminescence in the sea and described it in his journal.
Uses of Bioluminescence by Animals
– Animals use bioluminescence for counterillumination camouflage.
– Some animals mimic other species to lure prey.
– Bioluminescence is used for signaling to attract mates within the same species.
– It can also be used for defense mechanisms and warning signals.
– Bioluminescence plays a role in the communication and coordination of social behaviors.
Applications in Science and Technology
– Luciferase-based systems are used in genetic engineering and biomedical research.
– Bioluminescence is used as a tool to study biological processes and cellular activities.
– Researchers are exploring the possibility of using bioluminescent systems for street lighting.
– Bioluminescent plants have been created for decorative lighting purposes.
– The United States Navy has utilized bioluminescence for submarine detection and navigation.
Contributions and Nobel Prize
– Osamu Shimomura isolated the photoprotein aequorin and its cofactor coelenterazine.
– Shimomura, Martin Chalfie, and Roger Y. Tsien won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery and development of green fluorescent protein.
– Raphaël Dubois studied bioluminescence in click beetles and the marine bivalve mollusc Pholas dactylus.
– Dubois refuted the idea that bioluminescence came from phosphorus and identified luciferin as the compound involved.
– Harvey conducted extensive research on bioluminescence and aimed to demonstrate a common ancestor for all bioluminescent organisms.
Evolution of Bioluminescence
– 1932: E. N. Harvey proposes early hypothesis on bioluminescence evolution
– Proto-bioluminescence may have originated from respiratory chain proteins
– These proteins could have held fluorescent groups
– Hypothesis suggests a gradual development of bioluminescence
– Evolution of bioluminescence likely involved genetic mutations and natural selection
Bioluminescent Organisms
– Bioluminescence is found in various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and animals
– Examples of bioluminescent organisms include fireflies, glow worms, and certain deep-sea creatures
– Bioluminescence serves different purposes in different organisms, such as attracting mates or luring prey
– Some bioluminescent organisms exhibit complex light patterns and color variations
– Bioluminescence can be regulated by environmental factors, such as temperature and pH levels
Mechanism of Bioluminescence
– Bioluminescence is the result of a chemical reaction within specialized cells or organs
– The reaction involves the enzyme luciferase and a substrate called luciferin
– Luciferase catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin, releasing energy in the form of light
– Oxygen and ATP are required for the bioluminescent reaction to occur
– Bioluminescent organisms have evolved specific mechanisms to regulate the production and release of light
Biotechnological Applications
– Bioluminescence has been utilized in various biotechnological applications
– Luciferase enzymes are used as reporter genes in genetic research and bioluminescent imaging
– Bioluminescent assays are employed in drug discovery and toxicity testing
– Bioluminescent bacteria are used in environmental monitoring and detection of contaminants
– Bioluminescence technology has potential applications in medical diagnostics and bioengineering
Bioluminescence in Ecosystems
– Bioluminescence plays an important role in ecosystem dynamics and interactions
– Bioluminescent organisms contribute to nutrient cycling and energy transfer in marine ecosystems
– Some deep-sea organisms use bioluminescence for communication and defense
– Bioluminescent displays can attract predators, aiding in the dispersal of organisms
– The study of bioluminescence in ecosystems provides insights into biodiversity and ecological relationships Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, microorganisms including some bioluminescent bacteria, and terrestrial arthropods such as fireflies. In some animals, the light is bacteriogenic, produced by symbiotic bacteria such as those from the genus Vibrio; in others, it is autogenic, produced by the animals themselves.
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In a general sense, the principal chemical reaction in bioluminescence involves a light-emitting molecule and an enzyme, generally called luciferin and luciferase, respectively. Because these are generic names, luciferins and luciferases are often distinguished by the species or group, e.g. firefly luciferin. In all characterized cases, the enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of the luciferin.
In some species, the luciferase requires other cofactors, such as calcium or magnesium ions, and sometimes also the energy-carrying molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In evolution, luciferins vary little: one in particular, coelenterazine, is found in 11 different animal phyla, though in some of these, the animals obtain it through their diet. Conversely, luciferases vary widely between different species, which is evidence that bioluminescence has arisen over 40 times in evolutionary history.
Both Aristotle and Pliny the Elder mentioned that damp wood sometimes gives off a glow. Many centuries later Robert Boyle showed that oxygen was involved in the process, in both wood and glowworms. It was not until the late nineteenth century that bioluminescence was properly investigated. The phenomenon is widely distributed among animal groups, especially in marine environments. On land it occurs in fungi, bacteria and some groups of invertebrates, including insects.
The uses of bioluminescence by animals include counterillumination camouflage, mimicry of other animals, for example to lure prey, and signaling to other individuals of the same species, such as to attract mates. In the laboratory, luciferase-based systems are used in genetic engineering and biomedical research. Researchers are also investigating the possibility of using bioluminescent systems for street and decorative lighting, and a bioluminescent plant has been created.
