Selected Least Studied but not Forgotten Bioluminescent Systems

Oba, Yuichi; Stevani, Cassius V.; Oliveira, Adriana Gonçalves; Tsarkova, Aleksandra S.; Chepurnykh, T. V.; Yampolsky, Ilia V.

doi:10.1111/php.12704

Cited by 35 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…In this study, Oculogryphus females represent the first example of fireflies possessing UV-fluorescence in the cuticular regions of the body. They are also significant because of their co-occurrence of fluorescence and bioluminescence, a phenomenon so far only known in some marine animals but very rare in terrestrial or freshwater ecosystems (Matz et al 2006, Oba et al 2017, Marek and Moore 2015, Marek 2017). When bioluminescence accompanies fluorescence, the production of light is often biochemically linked whereby the fluorophore is the ultimate light emitter through energy transfer (Shimomura 2006, Marek 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oculogryphus chenghoiyanae sp. n. (Coleoptera, Lampyridae): a new ototretine firefly from Hong Kong with descriptions of its bioluminescent behavior and ultraviolet-induced fluorescence in females

Yiu¹,

Jeng²

2018

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The first Oculogryphus species with associated males and female was found in Hong Kong and is described as new: O. chenghoiyanae sp. n. Adults of both sexes were collected live in the field and their bioluminescent behavior is reported for the first time in the genus. The captive males emit weak and continuous light from a pair of light spots on abdominal ventrite 6 or do so when disturbed. The larviform (highly paedomorphic) females can glow brightly from a pair of light-emitting organs on the abdomen. The females of Oculogryphus and Stenocladius are to date the only documented representatives of paedomorphism in ototretine fireflies. The finding is consistent with the evidence from male morphology and bioluminescent behavior, supporting the close relationship between the two genera. A key to the Oculogryphus species is provided. The Oculogryphus females can fluoresce with a blue-green light through the whole body under ultraviolet illumination, a phenomenon reported in the Lampyridae for the first time. The co-occurrence of bioluminescence and fluorescence is rare in terrestrial ecosystems, previously known only in some millipedes (Diplopoda). The fluorescence and bioluminescence abilities of Oculogryphus females are functionally independent: abdominal light-emitting organs producing bright yellowish green light while the body wall fluoresces with blue-green light. In contrast, fluorescence and bioluminescence in millipedes are biochemically linked, like in some jellyfish (Cnidaria: Medusozoa).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oculogryphus chenghoiyanae sp. n. (Coleoptera, Lampyridae): a new ototretine firefly from Hong Kong with descriptions of its bioluminescent behavior and ultraviolet-induced fluorescence in females

Yiu¹,

Jeng²

2018

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“…The mechanism of light emission is broadly conserved: an enzymatic oxidation reaction by a luciferase enzyme turns a luciferin substrate into a high energy intermediate which decays to produce light 1 . There have been several different examples of luciferin substrateluciferase enzyme pairs described to date 6,7 . Researchers have leveraged some, such as the firefly and renilla luciferase enzymes to build reporters to study gene expression in plants and other eukaryotic systems 8,9 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building customizable auto-luminescent luciferase-based reporters in plants

Khakhar

Starker

Chamness

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Bioluminescence is a powerful biological signal that scientists have repurposed to design reporters for gene expression in plants and animals. However, there are some downsides associated with the need to provide a substrate to these reporters, such as its high cost and non-uniform tissue penetration. In this work we reconstitute a fungal bioluminescence pathway (FBP) in planta using an easily composable toolbox of parts. We demonstrate that the FBP can create luminescence across various tissues in a broad range of plants without external substrate addition. We also show how our toolbox can be used to deploy the FBP in planta to build auto-luminescent reporters for the study of gene-expression and hormone fluxes. A low-cost imaging platform for gene expression profiling is also described. These experiments lay the groundwork for the future construction of programmable auto-luminescent plant traits, such as creating light driven plant-pollinator interactions or light emitting plant-based sensors.

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“…UV fluorescence is currently known only in the first two taxa [5,41,46,47,65]. Several centipedes and millipedes are luminescent [26,46,47,[66][67][68]. This raises the question of whether fluorescence and luminescence in myriapods are a mechanistic link for the production of light, whereby the fluorescent substance is the ultimate light emitter through energy transfer as in GFP [7,46].…”

Section: Myriapodamentioning

confidence: 99%

Biofluorescence in Terrestrial Animals, with Emphasis on Fireflies: A Review and Field Observation

Jeng¹

2019

Bioluminescence - Analytical Applications and Basic Biology

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The mysterious world of biofluorescence in terrestrial ecosystems is mesmerizing. Though not as ubiquitous as in the ocean, it is not a rare phenomenon on land. Fluorescence occurs in all major phyla of terrestrial animals (Platyhelminthes, Mollusca, Annelida, Nematoda, Onychophora, Arthropoda, and Chordata) and their subgroups, with diverse fluorophores and performance. In this chapter, we make a general review on the fluorescence in terrestrial animals first, including their systematic distribution, research history, fluorophores, and proposed functions for each group among several other aspects. A systematic observation on the fluorescence of fireflies is reported for the first time. The co-occurrence of biofluorescence and bioluminescence in luminescent land snails, earthworms, potworms, millipedes, and fireflies is a fascinating issue. Though the biochemical mechanism of photogenesis is not fully understood in many terrestrial animals except fireflies, it appears that biofluorescence and bioluminescence do not have clear interaction during the light production process. However, fluorophores and luminophores are usually biochemically related and are different from the photogenic mechanism of jellyfish and several marine creatures whose ultimate light emission is made through energy transfer from bioluminescence to biofluorescence by green fluorescent protein (GFP) or its variants. The role of fluorescence is disputative. In general, nocturnal animals or animals having cryptic living styles, e.g., in earth or under shelters like tree bark or rocks, tend to exhibit UV fluorescence more frequently than animals that are diurnal or inhabit open environments. This pattern is evident in fireflies wherein only nocturnal and luminescent species exhibit noticeable UV fluorescence (likely from luciferin), which is dim or absent in diurnal or crepuscular fireflies. It is unlikely that occasionally induced UV fluorescence in natural environments can play a significant role in intra-or interspecific communication in fireflies or other nocturnal animals.

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Selected Least Studied but not Forgotten Bioluminescent Systems

Cited by 35 publications

References 66 publications

Oculogryphus chenghoiyanae sp. n. (Coleoptera, Lampyridae): a new ototretine firefly from Hong Kong with descriptions of its bioluminescent behavior and ultraviolet-induced fluorescence in females

Oculogryphus chenghoiyanae sp. n. (Coleoptera, Lampyridae): a new ototretine firefly from Hong Kong with descriptions of its bioluminescent behavior and ultraviolet-induced fluorescence in females

Building customizable auto-luminescent luciferase-based reporters in plants

Biofluorescence in Terrestrial Animals, with Emphasis on Fireflies: A Review and Field Observation

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