Glowing fungi expose final enzyme that could make bioluminescent tools more efficient
Researchers from the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry at the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry as part of an international collaboration, have published two papers in The FEBS Journal confirming the role of the CPH enzyme in the fungal bioluminescence pathway. The team showed that this enzyme breaks down oxyluciferin into caffeic and pyruvic acids. Caffeic acid then returns to the bioluminescent system and helps sustain light emission. This metabolite recycling mechanism helps explain how fungi maintain bioluminescence and may reduce the energetic cost of the process. The findings open up new opportunities for developing more efficient autonomous bioluminescent systems, with potential applications in medicine, biotechnology, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. Learn more
22 мая