Slide 1Slide 2Slide 3Slide 4Slide 5Slide 6Slide 7Slide 8Slide 9Slide 10Slide 11Slide 12Slide 13Slide 14Slide 15Slide 16Slide 17Slide 18Slide 19Slide 20Slide 21Slide 22Slide 23Slide 24Slide 25Slide 26Slide 27An An IlluminatingIlluminating PresentationPresentationDave Quiles Imagineering Productions PresentsIn Illumicolor(Where Available)DaveyDaveyQQFlashFlashFireflyFireflyBioluminescence is a natural phenomenon in which organisms produce and emit light via an enzyme-mediated biochemical process.This visible light is ìcoldî- meaning that,unlike incandescent sources, light generatedby bioluminescence does not give off much energy in the form of heat.Alrighty, what exactly is bioluminescence?Alrighty, what exactly is bioluminescence?Selected History of BioluminescenceSelected History of Bioluminescenceï500 B.C. Aniximenes He described light exhibited by the sea when struckwith an oar.ï350 B.C. AristotleConsidered lightning similar to when "you strike the sea with a rod by night and the water is seen to shine".ï1637 A.D. Rene DescartesStriking seawater will "generate sparks rather similar to those whichare emitted by pieces of flint whenthey are struck."ï1717 A.D. Sir Isaac Newton"...do not all Bodies...emit Light asoften as those parts are sufficientlyagitated; whether that agitation bemade by Heat, or by Friction, or Percussion, or Putrefaction, or by any vital Motion,or any other Cause? As for instance; Sea-Waterin a raging Storm.îSelected History of Bioluminescence, ContinuedSelected History of Bioluminescence, Continuedï1668 A.D. Robert BoyleìI am tempted to supect, that some cosmical lawor customof the terrestrial globe, or, at least, ofthe planetary vortex, may have a considerableagency in the production of these effects.îSelected History of Bioluminescence, ContinuedSelected History of Bioluminescence, Continuedï1885 A.D. Raphael Duboisï1747 A.D Benjamin FranklinFirst thought phosphorescence was due to electricity. 1753 - "It isindeed possible, that an extremelysmall animalcule, too small to be visible even by thebest glasses, may yet give a visible light."ï1952 A.D. E. Newton HarveyìThe Dean of BioluminescenceîLuciferase- The ìLight Bearingî EnzymeLuciferase- The ìLight Bearingî EnzymeLuciferase is the general name applied to theclass of enzymes that are responsible for converting chemical energy into light energy.The substrate molecule upon which luciferase acts is called a luciferin.While both luciferase and luciferin structures and their respective reactions vary widely between organisms, the requirement of atmospheric oxygen for bioluminescent activity remains universal for all of the various systems.Light Cook Book (Mechanism of Bioluminescence)Light Cook Book (Mechanism of Bioluminescence)Luciferin+Luciferase +ATP Mg2++++++ ++Luciferyladenylate-luciferasePyrophosphateLuciferyladenylate-luciferaseO2Luciferase Oxyluciferin AMP LightCO2Natural Supporting Cast of Bioluminescent ActivityNatural Supporting Cast of Bioluminescent ActivityBacteriaFungiProtozoaOrganism group Member name PhotoVibrio harveyiPolyporus HanedaiDinoflagellates(Pyrocystis fusiformis)Natural Supporting Cast, ContinuedNatural Supporting Cast, ContinuedMolluscaAnnelidaPhyllirrhoe(nudibranch)CephalopodaNo PictureAvailableCnidariaOrganism group Member name PhotoWataseniascintillansAtolla vanhoeffeniAcholoeastericolaCrustraceaEuphausia pacifica(shrimp)Euphausia pacifica(shrimp)Natural Supporting Cast, ContinuedNatural Supporting Cast, ContinuedInsectaPiscesArthropodaOrganism group Member name PhotoPyrophorusnoctilucusPediculati(Angler fish)Flash FireflyApplications of BioluminescenceApplications of BioluminescenceïIn NaturePhoto compliments of Mike HurleyObtained from http://www.coral.org/Gallery5.htmlïIn the LabHow and why some organisms use that funky bioluminescence in natureHow and why some organisms use that funky bioluminescence in natureVisionïLuresïMimickingPredationïPollinationïMating & CommunicationïEgg fertilizationReproductionTesting for TBTesting for TBMycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria cause about 8 million cases of disease and million deaths a year.Time is a crucial factor for TB treatment.A new test making use of bioluminescence has been developed that can cut the time it takes to test for TB by about half.The Procedure for the TB TestThe Procedure for the TB TestThe luciferase (Lux) gene is inserted into a phage thatinfects the TB bacteria.The virus infects the cells and inserts the luciferase producing gene into the host genome.Luciferin substrate is added and the TB bacterium is now bioluminescent.The effect of different drugs on the TB is tested by adding the antibiotic to the transformed cells and detecting for light.If the antibiotic works, the light will not be emittedsince, of course, the cell is dead.Bioluminescent X-Ray SpecsBioluminescent X-Ray SpecsQuestion: Wouldnít it be helpful (and neat!) to have a pair of glasses that would enable the wearer to see inside an animal in order to study diseases and infections?It may sound like something from a old comic book advertisement, but in reality, itís another new technique using bioluminescence to study organisms.Infection Investigation the Cool WayScientists have spliced a bacterial lux gene into salmonella.They then use this bacteria to infect mice and with little more than a Tim ìTheToolmanî Taylor enhanced camera, they can visualize and map the course of the infection.John Morrey created a transgenic mouse with the luciferase gene added to a genetic switch in every cell within its bodyThe luciferase is turned on when DMSO, which simulates the effect of HIV in mice, is added to cause the switch to turn on.It is hoped that this animal can serve as the model for HIV infection or that this method can help gene therapyInfection Investigation the Cool Way, ContinuedBiosensorsBiosensorsBiosensors are living organisms that are exploited for their ability to sense and report changes in their surroundings.The scientists that are working with these biosensors are using colonies of live bacteria that have a luciferase (Lux) gene tethered to another gene that is activated during an environmental change. When the changecauses the native gene to be activated, theluciferase gene is also activated and light is produced, physically signaling the change.The key to the system lies in the special protein found on the surface of the bacterial cell wall.Biosensors, ContinuedBiosensors, ContinuedThis special