Selected Least Studied but not Forgotten Bioluminescent Systems

Author(s)

Oba, Yuichi ; Stevani, Cassius V. ; Oliveira, Anderson G. ; Tsarkova, Aleksandra S. ; Chepurnykh, Tatiana V. ; Yampolsky, Ilia V.

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Photochemistry and Photobiology; v. 93, n. 2, p. 405-415, MAR-APR 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 9

Abstract

Bioluminescence is a form of chemiluminescence generated by luminous organisms. Luminous taxa have currently been reported from about 800 genera and probably over 10 000 species in the world. On the other hand, their bioluminescent systems, including chemical structures of luciferins/chromophores and the genes encoding luciferases/photoproteins, have been elucidated from only a few taxonomic groups, for example beetles, bacteria, dinoflagellates, ostracods and some cnidarians. Research efforts to understand unknown bioluminescence systems are being conducted around the world, and recently, for example, novel luciferin structures of luminous enchytraeid potworms and fungi were identified by the authors. In this study, we review the current status and perspectives, in the context of postgenomic era, of most likely novel but less-revealed bioluminescence systems of ten selected organisms: earthworm, parchment tubeworm, fireworm, scaleworm, limpet, millipede, brittle star, acorn worms, tunicate and shark, which indeed are the next focus of our international collaboration. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/25834-7 - Study on the bioluminescence of Chaetopterus variopedatus (Annelida, Polychaeta) and the search for new marine bioluminescent systems
• Grantee: Anderson Garbuglio de Oliveira
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/16885-1 - Fungal bioluminescence: species survey, mechanistic study & toxicological assays
• Grantee: Cassius Vinicius Stevani
• Support type: Regular Research Grants