Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence By GCSome things which are neither fire nor form of fire seem to produce light by nature ~Aristotle

What is Bioluminescence? Defined : the emission of light as a result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted into light energy From a living organism that functions for its survival or mating Comes from Greek word bios for living and Latin word lumen for light, so it literally means living lightCold light resulting from a specific biochemical mechanism involving chemical processesSpecific for that organismFound all over biosphere, phosphorescence in sea water observed in all oceans Bioluminescence of visible light is found in a majority of marine organisms but is rare in terrestrial organism

How does Bioluminescence Occur?

How does Bioluminescence Occur?All involve an oxygen oxidation of organic molecule (luciferin)Catalyzed by an enzyme called luciferaseThese proteins are called photoproteins -> oxygen is already bound to the luciferinA photoprotein is a protein with a luciferin bound to itAntenna proteins -> adjust the colour of bioluminescence likeness to proteins on similar function in photosynthesis except they act in reverse5 known distinct chemical classes of luciferins:Aldehydes, benzothiazoles, imidazolopyrazines, tetrapyrroles and flavinsKey organ -> photophore (light producing organ)Seen in many luminous fish and vividly in cephalopodsMake up of complex photogenic (light emitting) cellsBioluminescent reaction components detected in stomach, secretory organs and liver of some organisms

Bioluminescence, Fluorescence, Phosphorescence Bioluminescence: light is created through a chemical reaction. Bioluminescence is a subset of chemiluminescence Fluorescence: a particular atom or molecule absorbs light of one length, but emits one of a longer length. The light going in is usually UV photons, and comes out as visible lightPhosphorescence: requires more time to remit radiation absorbed than fluorescence. This is because the sub atomic reactions required to remit light occur less often than in fluorescence.

Fluorescence

History of BioluminescenceStories of mysterious light or fires seen over fields or mountains were often said to be dragons or the godsGreeks and romans first to report luminous organismsReports of fireflies found in early religious writing of India and ChinaEarlier recordings believed to have come from these and ancient eastern civilizations and refered to firelies and glow wormsAristotle (384-322BC) (first to discover) decribed more than 180 marine species, first to recognize cold lightLater, complete and extensive descriptions of luminous organisms published by Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE)16th century references to bioluminescence found in literature such as Shakespeare, specifically in hamlet who talked about effectual fire of the glow wormFirst book devoted to bioluminescence and chemiluminescence published in 1555 by Conrad Gesner 1667 Robert Boyle documented oxygen was needed for luminescence

History of BioluminescenceRaphael Dubois performed experiment, he extracted the two key components of bioluminescence reaction and was able to create light and that there 2 key components= luciferine and heat labile luciferase*One of most eminent scientists of 20th century was Princeton Professor E. Newton Harvey*He was looking for existence of lucifernin- luciferase system in all luminous organismsFirst luciferin isolated in 1956First photo protein isolated was the calcium activated photoprotien aequorin in the 1960s

History of BioluminescenceCalcium dependant photoprotein cloned in 1985Intensity of luminescence varies with calcium concentrationTherefore aequorin has been used in monitoring of cell calcium 1985 firefly luciferase was cloned

Firefly

Tomopteris

Luciferin chemical structure

Light Emission All colours of the visible light spectrum; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violetDifferent colours dependant on role the light plays and which organism it is produced inMany only produce one colour, however some are capable of many coloursEg. Jamaican click beetle; this is due to the same luciferin substrate as the firefly, but different luciferase structuresBioluminescence releases a large amount of energy, not heatVisible light radiation is equal to light wavelengths of 400-700 nmBioluminescence max of most marine species is 460-510 nmTerrestrial organisms mostly yellow-green BL, more yellowMarine mostly blue-green (400-500nm) luminescence because it travels the best through water

Uses of Bioluminescence in NaturePlays an important role in nature due to the darkness 200m underwaterLocation on body of bioluminescence gives clues to the functional role of the luminescence Attracting a mate Eg. The wave lengths attract mates, but do not draw attention to themselvesAttracting preyEg. Angler fish has a luminescent lureFinding foodeg. Loose jaw fish, bioluminescent organs in cheeks to see in dark waterCommunication eg. Fireflies flash certain patterns to either attract mates or communicateCamouflage eg. Bobtail squid blends into background Defense against predatorseg. Deep sea shrip vomits bioluminescent material in direction of attacker

Deep- sea shrimp vomits bioluminescent material

Notable Figures Robert BoyleBritish philosopher and scientistIn 1667 performed experiment and found that bioluminescence didnt occur when a known bioluminescent type of fungus was not in the presence of air1672 he discovers that bioluminescence reactions require air, when he later discovered oxygen, we realize is the oxygen component of air that is needed

Robert Boyle

Oxygen Atom

Notable Figures Raphael Dubois 1887 he discovered luciferin and luciferase through experiments with clams, beetles, and other speciesHe did an experiment using a clam called the common paddockGround tissue of the clam up in cold water, and light was produced for several minutes. This showed he has extracted the light producing chemicalThen made a hot water extract from another clam and added it to the cold water, which reactivated the light reactionA hot water extraction alone produced no light reactionCalled the hot water extraction luciferin Called cold water extraction luciferase Noted that luciferin could only glow in the presence of luciferase

Raphael Dubois

Notable FiguresEdmund Newton Harvey Greatly popularized the study of bioluminescence Discovered that luciferins and luciferase from different animals are not interchangeableEvidence of evolution of bioluminescence to fit various needs of different speciesNow shown that evolution of bioluminescent systems has occurred over 30 times, which accounts for the differences in colours and uses in different species

Humpback Angler Fish

Jamaican Click Beetle

Modern Applications and Where We are GoingThe discovery and study on bioluminescent organisms is the goal of many expeditions of ocean going research vessels and marine submersiblesCommercial ApplicationsGlowing trees to save electricity billsAgricultural crops that luminesce when in need of waterDetection of bacteria in contaminated foodsNovelty pets Bio-indentifies for convicts, mentally illGlowing toys, glowing greeting cardsLuminescent beer and champange

Glofish

Modern Applications and Where We are GoingMedical ApplicationsReporter genesBioluminescent Imaging*In vivo analysisDetection of bacteriaObservations of protein to protein interactingTesting for genetically modified organisms* Water quality testing*Green Florescent Protein*

Bioluminescent Imaging (BLI)Used on small animalsReal time monitoring of the progression of infections in the same animalTypically 2D imagery, with lower resolutionCan mark progress at different time points without euthanizing the animal, uses animals mice than conventional methods of progress tracking Quicker and relatively inexpensiveAllowed specific molecular and cellular events such as cell migration and signal transduction to be investigated in a living, intact animal

Bioluminescent Imaging (BLI)Bioluminescence is decreased by pigmentation of organs such and liver, spleen and the furTo get around this they can shave the mice or use ones with the albino geneUsed to study bacteria distribution, distinguish between more and less virulent strains and moniter antibiotic therapyAlso used to study viruses, but because oflow resolution, it can be difficult to distinguish between viral infections in adjacent tissuesUsed to investigate parasite infectionsHigh correlation between light intensity and amount of parasites in spleen

Mouse and BLI

MicrotoxFor water quality/ toxicity testingUses the bioluminescent marine bacteria vibrio fischeriWhen the organism is challenged by a toxin, its breathing pathway is disrupted, resulted in decreased bioluminescence intensity

Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)Now a well established and excelled genetag and proteinIt can be fused to a protein of interest and fluorescence and can be tracked within a cell to study its localization and behavior Outstanding structural stability Excellent for studying the cell and sub cellular processes Cloned in 1992, expressed in various organism in 1994

Vibrio Fischeri

Lumora and Improved GMO TestingPeople want to know, Does this food contain genetically modified organisms? and they have the right to knowGenetically Modified Organisms (GMO): genetic material (DNA or RNA) that has been altered in ways that would not occur under natural conditions or natural processesMost common technique used to test for GMOS is polymerase chain reaction (PCR)PCR requires complex DNA extraction techniques, rapid thermocycling, expensive equipment, and is a lengthy processCompany called Lumora came up with a breakthrough technology to test for GMOIts a combination of 2 technologies; Bioluminescence and isothermal DNA amplificationBioluminescence used is bioluminescence real time reporter (BART)

Organic food symbol

Lumora and Improved GMO TestingLoop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)BART uses luciferase and detects DNA and It lights up when it find specific DNA and RNA sequences linked to genetic modificationsGMO testing can be done out in the field or in a food processing center LAMP-BART technique requires only basic equipment for DNA extraction, a constant temperature and simple light detectionQuicker than PCRGood for farmers to have a cheap, reliable way to test products for GMOsLumoras GMO detector can also be used to test for things like salmonella in foods

Questions?What are the biological advantage of light emission to the animal?Evolution history?Metabolic/ dietary source of the luciferins?What are the control mechanisms for light flashing?Discovering- luminous mollusc, a roman delicacy, the bioluminescence mechanism of it is still not completely solved

Picture References Deep-sea Shrimphttp://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/12/20/science/20JPBIO1_SPAN.html

Chemical equations and fluorescence animations:http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/chem/

Tomopterishttp://discovermagazine.com/photos/1-8-marine-creatures-that-light-up-the-sea

Chemical Structure drawing of Luciferinhttp://www.biotium.com/product/applications/Enzyme_substrates/price_and_info.asp?item=10100&layer1=D;&layer2=D01;

Robert Boyle http://www.friedpost.com/sciencetech/greatest-science-discoveris-boyle%E2%80%99s-law-1977.html

Raphael Duboishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Raphael_Dubois_(1849-1929).jpg

Oxygen Atomhttp://www.historyforkids.org/scienceforkids/chemistry/atoms/oxygen.htm

Bioluminescent Imaging mousehttp://www.caliperls.com/products/preclinical-imaging/?gclid=CMiigb2T_q8CFWwDQAodmVZCzg

Glofishhttp://fish-blog.co.uk/News/manufacturer_supports_glofish_industry/

Vibrio Fischerihttp://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Vibrio_fischeri

Bioluminescent Imaging mousehttp://www.caliperls.com/products/preclinical-imaging/?gclid=CMiigb2T_q8CFWwDQAodmVZCzg

Organic food stamphttp://www.google.ca/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=569&tbm=isch&tbnid=pcYC93zfdGquhM:&imgrefurl=http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/organic/certification.htm&docid=MuinqDkP2Ld1-M&imgurl=http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/organic/certificationf10.jpg&w=600&h=616&ei=JSGwT6XnFarE6QG1rqCvCQ&zoom=1

Humpback Angler Fishhttp://written-4u.blogspot.ca/2007/01/allah-creator-sustainer-surely-it-is.html

Jamaican Click Beetle http://www.asknature.org/media/image/6970

References Beecher, C. (2012, May 7). Breakthrough Offers Promise of Improved GMO Testing. In Food Safety News. Retrieved May 9, 2012, from http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/05/breakthrough-offers-promise-of-improved-gmo-testing/

Binger, J. M. (2007, March 14). Bioluminescence. In Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology. Retrieved May 6, 2012, from cbst.ucdavis.edu/education/courses/spring-2007./bingerfinaldraft.doc

Hutchens, M., & Luker, G. D. (2007, June 24). Applications of bioluminescence imaging to the study of infectious diseases. Retrieved May 7, 2012, from Wiley Online Library (10.1111/j.1462-5822.2007.00995.x).

John, L. (08). Basic Bioluminescence. In Photobiological Sciences Online. Retrieved May 7, 2012, from http://www.photobiology.info/LeeBasicBiolum.html

Lee, J. (08). A History of Bioluminescence. In Photobiological Sciences Online. Retrieved May 6, 2012, from http://www.photobiology.info/HistBiolum.html

Lumora welcomes expressions of interest for GMO test commercialisation after BART technology demonstrates ability to detect genetically modified contamination of crops rapidly and at very low levels o. (2012, April 30). In Lumora . Retrieved May 9, 2012, from http://79.170.44.87/lumora.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100:lumora-welcomes-expressions-of-interest-for-gmo-test-commercialisation-after-bart-technology-demonstrates-ability-to-d