Bioluminescence is the natural phenomenon by which living creatures produce light. This fascinating process occurs when the oxidation of a small-molecule luciferin is catalyzed by an enzyme luciferase to form an excited state molecule that emits light upon returning to its ground state. Over 30 known bioluminescent systems have been identified, with 11 luciferin-luciferase pairs characterized so far. These systems have different light emission wavelengths, making them suitable for various applications in biotechnology and beyond.
Bioluminescent Systems and Their Applications
The diverse bioluminescent systems found in nature have unique properties that can be leveraged for different purposes. Some key aspects of these systems and their potential applications include:
Light Emission Wavelengths
The varying light emission wavelengths of different bioluminescent systems, ranging from blues and greens to reds and near-infrared, make them useful for various imaging and detection applications, from live-cell monitoring to in vivo studies.
Biotechnology Applications
Bioluminescent reporters, such as firefly luciferase, are widely used in biotechnology for applications like gene expression analysis, drug discovery screening, and biosensing. The ability to engineer bioluminescent proteins expands their utility in diverse fields.