Sequencing and functional studies with genic products isolated from Macrolampis firefly lanterns cDNA potentially involved with luciferin biosynthesis and bioluminescence control

• Grant number: 15/18102-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2015
• End date: October 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Radiology and Photobiology
• Principal Investigator: Vadim Viviani
• Grantee: Daniel Rangel de Souza
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although the biochemistry and physiology of bioluminescence in fireflies is well studied, how bioluminescence is regulated at the molecular level in the lanterns and how luciferin is biosynthesized is poorly known. Previously we performed a first transcriptional analysis of a cDNA library constructed from the lanterns of Macrolampis sp2 firefly. This analysis showed several abundant gene products, including genes involved in sulfur, cysteine and quinones metabolism, among them: cystathionine-²-lyase, pantetheinase, ferritin, S-adenosylmethionine synthetase and AMP-ligases. Thus, in order to continue this functional genomics project, we aim to completely sequence these genes, to investigate their evolution and molecular phylogeny, and investigate their biological role through functional in vivo studies in bacteria, and in vitro studies.