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Scientists present a fully genetically encodable bioluminescent system

Scientists from Russia, UK, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and Austria discovered the essential set of enzymes that allows glowing fungi to emit light. The bioluminescent system includes a brand- new luciferase and three enzymes that enable biosynthesis of fungal luciferin from a widespread metabolite – caffeic acid – as well as its recycling. The genes encoding this “caffeic acid cycle” make up a unique molecular toolkit that allows to turn any higher organism into a glowing one. The work was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

luciferase, bioluminescence, total synthesis, luciferin

Goncharuk S.A.

november 26, 2018