scholarly journals Leaving the Dark Side? Insights Into the Evolution of Luciferases

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérôme Delroisse ◽  
Laurent Duchatelet ◽  
Patrick Flammang ◽  
Jérôme Mallefet

Bioluminescence—i.e., the emission of visible light by living organisms—is defined as a biochemical reaction involving, at least, a luciferin substrate, an oxygen derivative, and a specialised luciferase enzyme. In some cases, the enzyme and the substrate are durably associated and form a photoprotein. While this terminology is educatively useful to explain bioluminescence, it gives a false idea that all luminous organisms are using identical or homologous molecular tools to achieve light emission. As usually observed in biology, reality is more complex. To date, at least 11 different luciferins have indeed been discovered, and several non-homologous luciferases lato sensu have been identified which, all together, confirms that bioluminescence emerged independently multiple times during the evolution of living organisms. While some phylogenetically related organisms may use non-homologous luciferases (e.g., at least four convergent luciferases are found in Pancrustacea), it has also been observed that phylogenetically distant organisms may use homologous luciferases (e.g., parallel evolution observed in some cnidarians, tunicates and echinoderms that are sharing a homologous luciferase-based system). The evolution of luciferases then appears puzzling. The present review takes stock of the diversity of known “bioluminescent proteins,” their evolution and potential evolutionary origins. A total of 134 luciferase and photoprotein sequences have been investigated (from 75 species and 11 phyla), and our analyses identified 12 distinct types—defined as a group of homologous bioluminescent proteins. The literature review indicated that genes coding for luciferases and photoproteins have potentially emerged as new genes or have been co-opted from ancestral non-luciferase/photoprotein genes. In this latter case, the homologous gene’s co-options may occur independently in phylogenetically distant organisms.

Author(s):  
Jérôme Delroisse ◽  
Laurent Duchatelet ◽  
Patrick Flammang ◽  
Jérôme Mallefet

Bioluminescence – i.e., the emission of visible light by living organisms - is defined as a biochemical reaction involving, at least, a luciferin substrate, an oxygen derivative, and a specialised luciferase enzyme. In some cases, the enzyme and the substrate are durably associated and form a photoprotein. While this terminology is educatively useful to explain bioluminescence, it gives a false idea that all luminous organisms are using identical or homologous molecular tools to achieve light emission. As usually observed in biology, reality is more complex. To date, 11 different luciferins have indeed been discovered, and several non-homologous luciferases lato sensu have been identified which, all together, confirms that bioluminescence emerged independently multiple times during the evolution of living organisms. While some phylogenetically related organisms may use non-homologous luciferases (e.g., at least four convergent luciferases are found in Pancrustacea), it has also been observed that phylogenetically distant organisms may use homologous luciferases (e.g., parallel evolution observed in some cnidarians, tunicates and echinoderms that are sharing a homologous luciferase-based system). The evolution of luciferases then appears puzzling. The present review takes stock of the diversity of known “bioluminescent proteins”, their evolution and potential evolutionary origins. A total of 134 luciferase and photoprotein sequences have been investigated (from 75 species and 11 phyla), and our analyses identified 12 distinct types – defined as a group of homologous bioluminescent proteins. The literature review indicated that genes coding for luciferases and photoproteins have potentially emerged as new genes or have been co-opted from ancestral non-luciferase/photoprotein genes. In this latter case, the homologous gene’s co-options may occur independently in phylogenetically distant organisms.


Author(s):  
Jérôme Delroisse ◽  
Laurent Duchatelet ◽  
Patrick Flammang ◽  
Jérôme Mallefet

Bioluminescence – i.e., the emission of visible light by living organisms - is defined as a biochemical reaction involving, at least, a luciferin substrate, an oxygen derivative, and a specialised luciferase enzyme. In some cases, the enzyme and the substrate are durably associated and form a photoprotein. While this terminology is educatively useful to explain bioluminescence, it gives a false idea that all luminous organisms are using identical or homologous molecular tools to achieve light emission. As usually observed in biology, the reality is more complicated. To date, 11 different luciferins have indeed been discovered, and several non-homologous luciferases lato sensu have been identified which, all together, confirms that bioluminescence emerged independently multiple times in evolution. While some phylogenetically related organisms may use non-homologous luciferases (e.g., at least four convergent luciferases found in Pancrustacea), it has also been observed that phylogenetically distant organisms may use homologous luciferases (e.g., parallel evolution observed in some cnidarians, tunicates and echinoderms that are sharing a homologous luciferase-based system). The evolution of luciferases then appears puzzling. The present review takes stock of the diversity of known “bioluminescent proteins”, their evolution and potential evolutionary origins. A total of 134 luciferase and photoprotein sequences have been investigated (from 75 species and 11 phyla), and our analyses identified 12 distinct types – defined as a group of homologous bioluminescent proteins. These analyses indicated that genes coding for luciferases and photoproteins have potentially emerged as new genes or have been co-opted from ancestral non-luciferase/photoprotein genes. In this latter case, the homologous gene’s co-options may occur independently in phylogenetically distant organisms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 534
Author(s):  
Isabel Saz-Gil ◽  
Ignacio Bretos ◽  
Millán Díaz-Foncea

How cooperatives generate and absorb social capital has attracted a great deal of attention due to the fact that they are collective organizations owned and democratically managed by their members, and, accordingly, are argued to be closely linked to the nature and dynamics of social capital. However, the extant literature and knowledge on the relationship between cooperatives and social capital remain unstructured and fragmented. This paper aims to provide a narrative literature review that integrates both sides of the relationship between cooperatives and social capital. On the one hand, one side involves how cooperatives create internal social capital and spread it in their immediate environment, and, on the other hand, it involves how the presence of social capital promotes the creation and development of cooperatives. In addition, our theoretical framework integrates the dark side of social capital, that is, how the lack of trust, reciprocal relationships, transparency, and other social capital components can lead to failure of the cooperative. On the basis of this review, we define a research agenda that synthesizes key trends and promising research avenues for further advancement of theoretical and empirical insights about the relationship between cooperatives and social capital, placing particular emphasis on rural and agricultural cooperatives.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1975
Author(s):  
Petra Drzewnioková ◽  
Francesca Festa ◽  
Valentina Panzarin ◽  
Davide Lelli ◽  
Ana Moreno ◽  
...  

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are widespread and highly diversified in wildlife and domestic mammals and can emerge as zoonotic or epizootic pathogens and consequently host shift from these reservoirs, highlighting the importance of veterinary surveillance. All genera can be found in mammals, with α and β showing the highest frequency and diversification. The aims of this study were to review the literature for features of CoV surveillance in animals, to test widely used molecular protocols, and to identify the most effective one in terms of spectrum and sensitivity. We combined a literature review with analyses in silico and in vitro using viral strains and archive field samples. We found that most protocols defined as pan-coronavirus are strongly biased towards α- and β-CoVs and show medium-low sensitivity. The best results were observed using our new protocol, showing LoD 100 PFU/mL for SARS-CoV-2, 50 TCID50/mL for CaCoV, 0.39 TCID50/mL for BoCoV, and 9 ± 1 log2 ×10−5 HA for IBV. The protocol successfully confirmed the positivity for a broad range of CoVs in 30/30 field samples. Our study points out that pan-CoV surveillance in mammals could be strongly improved in sensitivity and spectrum and propose the application of a new RT-PCR assay, which is able to detect CoVs from all four genera, with an optimal sensitivity for α-, β-, and γ-.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiran Shrestha

Modern liberal economics is against the Buddhists economics. Unhealthy market competition, greed of money, top most professionalisms and economic depression and recessions are the dark side but reality of modern liberal economics. To avoid such negative consequences from livelihood, right livelihood, from a philosophy of noble eightfold path, Buddhists Economics will be a new dimension of new economic development. To check the current situation of Buddhists Economics in Nepalese Cooperatives and Agriculture a small literature review was conducted. From this review above specified hypothesis over the drawbacks of contemporary liberal economics have serious hegemony over small Nepalese Economy. Buddhists scholars must be able to impose the philosophy of Buddhists Economics in day to day life of people linked with business, production, cooperatives and agriculture.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria De Matteis ◽  
Loris Rizzello ◽  
Mariafrancesca Cascione ◽  
Eva Liatsi-Douvitsa ◽  
Azzurra Apriceno ◽  
...  

In the last years, there is a growing interest in the application of nanoscaled materials in cancer therapy because of their unique physico-chemical properties. However, the dark side of their usability is limited by their possible toxic behaviour and accumulation in living organisms. Starting from this assumption, the search for a green alternative to produce nanoparticles (NPs) or the discovery of green molecules, is a challenge in order to obtain safe materials. In particular, gold (Au NPs) and silver (Ag NPs) NPs are particularly suitable because of their unique physico-chemical properties, in particular plasmonic behaviour that makes them useful as active anticancer agents. These NPs can be obtained by green approaches, alternative to conventional chemical methods, owing to the use of phytochemicals, carbohydrates, and other biomolecules present in plants, fungi, and bacteria, reducing toxic effects. In addition, we analysed the use of green and stimuli-responsive polymeric bio-inspired nanovesicles, mainly used in drug delivery applications that have revolutionised the way of drugs supply. Finally, we reported the last examples on the use of metallic and Au NPs as self-propelling systems as new concept of nanorobot, which are able to respond and move towards specific physical or chemical stimuli in biological entities.


2004 ◽  
Vol 01 (04) ◽  
pp. 711-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
SEE-KIONG NG ◽  
SOON-HENG TAN

The ongoing genomics and proteomics efforts have helped identify many new genes and proteins in living organisms. However, simply knowing the existence of genes and proteins does not tell us much about the biological processes in which they participate. Many major biological processes are controlled by protein interaction networks. A comprehensive description of protein–protein interactions is therefore necessary to understand the genetic program of life. In this tutorial, we provide an overview of the various current high-throughput methods for discovering protein–protein interactions, covering both the conventional experimental methods and new computational approaches.


Author(s):  
Oleg Sukmansky

Data, presented in this review, show that gaseous signaling molecules are a common biological system of bioregulators, which attribute to main kingdoms of life – animals, plants and bacteria. They confirm the similarity of their origin and developing by evolution. Gaseous signaling molecules (gasotransmitters) were first discovered and mostly researched in humans and mammals. Today are known gaseous signaling molecules such as: nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, polysulfides and sulfur dioxide. It is proved that there are more gaseous signaling molecules and more pathways and mechanisms of their production in bacteria than in mammals, so their importance in evolution of living organisms on the planet Earth has decreased. However, in the process of evolution, in connection with the development from simple unicellular organisms into complex, higher multicellular, the number of functional targets that were influenced by gaseous signaling molecules has increased, i.e. their role has been getting increasingly complicated. The endogenous gaseous signaling molecules, produced by bacteria, regulate their metabolism, protect them against antibiotics and promote their colonization in the host organism. So they play an important role in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases in humans and animals. On the other side, the endogenous gaseous signaling molecules of humans and animals have mostly the negative impact on bacteria’s development and increase the host’s resistance to infections. Published data prove the similarity of function and role in pathology of gaseous signaling molecules in invertebrates with those in higher (vertebrate) animals. In particular, this relates to the nervous system and to the role of gaseous signaling molecules in the formation of memory and behavior. The gaseous signaling molecules of non-mammal vertebrata – fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and birds – are especially similar to mammals and humans. Isolated tissues of brain, eyes and lungs of poikilothermic non-mammalian vertebrates (fishes, amphibians and reptiles) are used to study the possible role of gaseous signaling molecules in the pathogenesis of diseases affecting these organs in humans. Further researches of the evolution of gaseous signaling molecules by comparing them in living beings of different levels of development may be useful for exposure of new ways of application in medicine and adjacent fields. The study of their role in the pathogenesis of pathological processes increases the possibilities of treatment and prevention of diseases via utilization of gaseous signaling molecules, their donors, precursors, and inhibitors. Key words: gaseous signaling molecules, evolution, vertebrate, invertebrate, bacteria, biological action, role in pathology. For citation: Sukmansky OI. Gaseous signaling molecules (GSM): evolution, biological role and involvement in the pathogenesis of diseases (literature review). Journal of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. 2019;25(4):373–382


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