Leaving the Dark Side? Insights Into the Evolution of Luciferases

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