Cloning, expression and characterization of Phengodidae luciferases and proteins of bioluminescent system: structural, functional and evolutive aspects

• Grant number: 18/17855-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• 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
• Associated research grant: 10/05426-8 - Arthropod bioluminescence: biological diversity in Brazilian biomes, biochemical origin, structural/functional evolution of luciferases, molecular differentiation of lanterns, biotechnological, environmental and educational applications, AP.TEM

Abstract

Several luciferases of coleopteran species have been cloned by our group in the past few decade, however, many of them remain unknown as its primary structure and functional and evolutive aspects. Considering the phengodid luciferases were the least studied and with fewer enzymes cloned until now, its cloning and characterization is of the great importance, whereas the wide range of species which present different bioluminescence spectra. Moreover, such enzymes may have different optimum pH and affinity with ATP and luciferin, which makes them of biotechnological interest. Thus, her we will clone, express and characterize the active luciferases of the head and lateral lanterns of phengodid larval species, such as Mastinomorphus and Taximastinocerus and adults of Taximastinocerus, Mastinocerus nigricollis, Phrixotrix hirtus and Euryopa spp. Cloning and characterization of proteins possibly involved in the control of bioluminescence and luciferin biosynthesis, such as LRE (Luciferin-Regenerating Enzyme), esterases, phenoloxidase and ferritin are also desired. (AU)