What is it about?
In this paper we describe some bioluminescent systems that have been left behind in history. Because of their complexity or difficulties in obtaining sufficient biomass, both luciferin and luciferase/photoprotein and the mechanism involved in the emission of light are not yet known. Our research groups in Brazil, Japan and Russia accepted the challenge and began to study some of them. Soon new and exciting results should emerge.
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Why is it important?
Search, discovery and detailed studies of new bioluminescent systems and elucidation of chemical nature of their structural and regulatory components are especially relevant for understanding the mechanism of chemical bond formation, the chemiexcitation process in vitro and in vivo and the energy conversion into the light quanta as well. With the study and characterization of new bioluminescent systems some of them involving a membrane-bound luciferase (e.g., fungi), a whole new set of applications can be realized, such as studies of vesicle trafficking, membrane protein biochemistry, and studies of organelle membranes. While progress has been made in understanding the mechanism of firefly, jellyfish and bacterial bioluminescence, very little is known of fungi, polychaetes, earthworm and sea salps (Chordata) bioluminescence.
Perspectives
Study of the novel unexplored BL mechanisms requires an interdisciplinary approach with the involvement of professionals with different but somewhat complementary background. Hence, identification of chemical structures of novel luciferins and their mechanisms of action will be important from many points of view. Every new discovery in this area broadens the range of analytes, leading to the development of new methods for environmental, technological and biological monitoring. The study of bioluminescence is also important for biology and ecology fields, to understand life development and evolution on Earth.
Dr. Cassius V Stevani
Universidade de Sao Paulo Campus da Capital
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Selected Least Studied but not Forgotten Bioluminescent Systems, Photochemistry and Photobiology, February 2017, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/php.12704.
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