Firefly “femmes fatales” acquire defensive steroids (lucibufagins) from their firefly prey

Eisner, Thomas; Goetz, Michael; Hill, David E.; Smedley, Scott R.; Meinwald, Jerrold

doi:10.1073/pnas.94.18.9723

Cited by 139 publications

(117 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The bufadienolides also have an interesting insect source (the lightning bug, Photinus spp.) and a few plant sources; for example, red squill, Urginea maritima [3]. Human endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactive substance (EDLIS) is likely a combination of the cardenolide ouabain and bufadienolides such as marinobufagenin [4].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardioactive steroid poisoning: A comparison of plant- and animal-derived compounds

et al. 2006

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Introduction: Cardioactive steroids (CASs) are found in plants, animals, and insects. Their affinity for Na+-K+ ATPase is attenuated by the type of lactone at carbon 17 (C17) of the steroid backbone: those with 5-membered lactone rings, or cardenolides, are derived mostly from plants with 6-membered rings or from animals with bufadienolides. A systematic review of CAS poisoning was performed to compare the mortality rate of cardenolides and bufadienolides.Methods: MEDLINE was searched for articles using commonly reported names of CASs, and keywords were limited to human cases only. We searched cases from 1982 to 2003, so that supportive care was similar and digoxin-specific Fab was available. Identified reports of CAS poisoning were read to exclude cases involving licensed pharmaceuticals. Inclusion criteria included hyperkalemia, gastrointestinal symptoms, electrocardiographic evidence of CAS toxicity, digoxin serum concentration, or history of exposure to a substance containing a CAS. Clinical data was collected, including information about treatment with digoxin-specific Fab and treatment outcome.Results: Fifty-nine articles, describing 924 patients, were identified. Eight hundred ninety-seven patients (97%) ingested a CAS with a 5-membered lactone ring, and mortality was 6% (n = 54). Twenty-seven patients (2.9%) ingested a CAS with a 6-membered lactone ring, and mortality was 29.6% (n = 8). The difference in mortality rates was statistically significant (p < 0.001, [X 2 ]). CASs with 6-member rings accounted for the highest percentage of nonsuicidal exposures.Conclusion: Although cardenolides accounted for the majority of exposures, bufadienolides were five times more lethal than cardenolides.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardioactive steroid poisoning: A comparison of plant- and animal-derived compounds

et al. 2006

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“…Despite extensive characterization, the origin of beetle luciferin in Lampyridae is still unresolved, except for one key aspect: it is not directly ingested, unless another species of Lampyridae is, in turn, ingested (66). There is no evidence for beetle luciferin being found in any organism other than bioluminescent Lampyridae themselves and close bioluminescent relatives.…”

Section: Structure and Biosynthesis Of Beetle Luciferinmentioning

confidence: 96%

Evolution of beetle bioluminescence: the origin of beetle luciferin

2004

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Bioluminescence, the conversion of chemical energy into light in living organisms, is dependent on two principal components, an enzyme luciferase and the substrate luciferin. In beetles, the enzyme luciferase has been extensively studied, with significant enzymological, sequence and structural data now available. Furthermore, the enzyme has been employed in a remarkable number of important applications, from microbial detection and medical imaging to GM gene expression studies. However, there is little information regarding the biosynthesis of beetle luciferin, and here we review the literature and speculate as to its evolutionary origins. Luciferin consists of a benzothiazole moiety attached to a thiazole carboxylic acid moiety, the former being rarely observed in nature but the latter being observed in a broad range of biologically derived molecules. Benzothiazoles are, however, observed in melanogenesis and we speculate as to whether this may be relevant to the understanding of luciferin biosynthesis in beetles. This review examines recent novel insights into beetle luciferin recycling and we assess a range of possible biosynthetic mechanisms.

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“…The females respond to "their" males [3] to reveal their location, and reproduction is initiated. A perversion of this behavior is known, as the females of the firefly Photuris versicolor is able to mimic the light flash pattern of some Photinus females in order to attract their males and prey on them [4], absorbing nutrients and more [5]. The chemical reaction that creates photons from the energy stored in adenosine triphosphate has been described as the oxidation of a substrate of luciferine catalyzed by the enzymatic luciferase.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved light extraction in the bioluminescent lantern of a Photuris firefly (Lampyridae)

Bay¹,

Cloetens²,

Suhonen³

et al. 2013

Opt. Express

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Abstract:A common problem of light sources emitting from an homogeneous high-refractive index medium into air is the loss of photons by total internal reflection. Bioluminescent organisms, as well as artificial devices, have to face this problem. It is expected that life, with its mechanisms for evolution, would have selected appropriate optical structures to get around this problem, at least partially. The morphology of the lantern of a specific firefly in the genus Photuris has been examined. The optical properties of the different parts of this lantern have been modelled, in order to determine their positive or adverse effect with regard to the global light extraction. We conclude that the most efficient pieces of the lantern structure are the misfit of the external scales (which produce abrupt roughness in air) and the lowering of the refractive index at the level of the cluster of photocytes, where the bioluminescent production takes place.

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Firefly “femmes fatales” acquire defensive steroids (lucibufagins) from their firefly prey

Cited by 139 publications

References 17 publications

Cardioactive steroid poisoning: A comparison of plant- and animal-derived compounds

Cardioactive steroid poisoning: A comparison of plant- and animal-derived compounds

Evolution of beetle bioluminescence: the origin of beetle luciferin

Improved light extraction in the bioluminescent lantern of a Photuris firefly (Lampyridae)

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