User:Matt Whelihan: Difference between revisions
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== '''2d1r''' == | == '''2d1r''' == | ||
[[Image:luciferase.jpg]] | [[Image:luciferase.jpg]] | ||
== ''' | == '''Luciferases''' == | ||
Bioluminescence is the process by which living organisms convert chemical energy into photons of light and it is widely distributed throughout the animals, plants and fungi <ref>PMID:6358519</ref>. Species use bioluminescence as a survival tool in mating, defense and hunting. The one thing that all bioluminescent species have in common is that they all catalyze the reaction with an enzyme generically called a luciferase. All luciferases oxidize a substrate, which then decays back to the ground state while emitting a photon of light. This process is incredibly efficient with almost one photon of light produced per oxidation. While all lucifeases oxidize their substrates, the cofactors involved and reaction pathways used, vary widely <ref>PMID:775940</ref><ref>PMID:14444706</ref>. | Bioluminescence is the process by which living organisms convert chemical energy into photons of light and it is widely distributed throughout the animals, plants and fungi <ref>PMID:6358519</ref>. Species use bioluminescence as a survival tool in mating, defense and hunting. The one thing that all bioluminescent species have in common is that they all catalyze the reaction with an enzyme generically called a luciferase. All luciferases oxidize a substrate, which then decays back to the ground state while emitting a photon of light. This process is incredibly efficient with almost one photon of light produced per oxidation. While all lucifeases oxidize their substrates, the cofactors involved and reaction pathways used, vary widely <ref>PMID:775940</ref><ref>PMID:14444706</ref>. | ||
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<applet load='2d1r' size='400' frame='true' align='left' caption='Crystal structure of the thermostable Japanese firefly Luciferase complexed with OXYLUCIFERIN [http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/ligand/ligandsummary.do?hetId=OLU&sid=2D1R] and AMP [http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/ligand/ligandsummary.do?hetId=AMP&sid=2D1R]' /> | <applet load='2d1r' size='400' frame='true' align='left' caption='Crystal structure of the thermostable Japanese firefly Luciferase complexed with OXYLUCIFERIN [http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/ligand/ligandsummary.do?hetId=OLU&sid=2D1R] and AMP [http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/ligand/ligandsummary.do?hetId=AMP&sid=2D1R]' /> | ||
== Firefly Luciferase == | |||
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One of the most studied of all luciferases is that of the <scene name='User:Matt_Whelihan/Rainbow_n-c/2'>Firefly</scene>. This particular luciferase enzyme is located in the light emitting organ known as the lantern in the abdomen of the beetle. Firefly larvae glow green to ward off predators and adult fireflies use this mechanism of bioluminescence to attract mates. Luciferase binds ATP/Mg+ and D-luciferin and oxidizes it to Oxyluciferin with the products of one photon of yellow-green light, pyrophosphate, AMP and CO2<ref>PMID:775940</ref>. The crystal structures of two firefly luciferases, the North American Firefly (''Photinus pyralis'') <ref>PMID:8805533</ref> and the Japanese Firefly (''Luciola cruciata'')<ref>PMID:16541080</ref> 16541080 have been solved. | One of the most studied of all luciferases is that of the <scene name='User:Matt_Whelihan/Rainbow_n-c/2'>Firefly</scene>. This particular luciferase enzyme is located in the light emitting organ known as the lantern in the abdomen of the beetle. Firefly larvae glow green to ward off predators and adult fireflies use this mechanism of bioluminescence to attract mates. Luciferase binds ATP/Mg+ and D-luciferin and oxidizes it to Oxyluciferin with the products of one photon of yellow-green light, pyrophosphate, AMP and CO2<ref>PMID:775940</ref>. The crystal structures of two firefly luciferases, the North American Firefly (''Photinus pyralis'') <ref>PMID:8805533</ref> and the Japanese Firefly (''Luciola cruciata'')<ref>PMID:16541080</ref> 16541080 have been solved. | ||
