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Bioluminiscence Powerpoint

This document summarizes a seminar presentation on bacterial bioluminescence given by Cynthia Anachuna at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. The presentation introduces bioluminescence as light emission from an enzyme-catalyzed reaction in living organisms. It discusses the purposes of bioluminescence for different organisms and the types of proteins involved. Applications of bioluminescence for environmental microbiology are also described, including using bioluminescent genes to construct biosensors to detect contaminants and monitor pollutant toxicity. The conclusion reiterates the complexity and applications of bacterial bioluminescence.

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205 views7 pages

Bioluminiscence Powerpoint

This document summarizes a seminar presentation on bacterial bioluminescence given by Cynthia Anachuna at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. The presentation introduces bioluminescence as light emission from an enzyme-catalyzed reaction in living organisms. It discusses the purposes of bioluminescence for different organisms and the types of proteins involved. Applications of bioluminescence for environmental microbiology are also described, including using bioluminescent genes to construct biosensors to detect contaminants and monitor pollutant toxicity. The conclusion reiterates the complexity and applications of bacterial bioluminescence.

Uploaded by

Okafor Augustine
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA

FACULTY OF BIOSCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY AND BREWING

COURSE TITLE: SEMINAR IN MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

COURSE CODE: AMB 490

TOPIC:
BACTERIA BIOLUMINESCENCE
NAME:
ANACHUNA, CYNTHIA ONYINYE
REGISTRATION NUMBER:
2016484046

SUPERVISOR:
PROF. M.U. ORJI
INTRODUCTION

• Bioluminescence is the phenomenon of light emission


that results from an enzyme-catalyzed oxidation reaction
in living organisms.

• Bioluminescence can be found in nearly all kingdoms of


life with a variety of luciferases and luciferins, the
enzymes and light-emitting molecule involved in light
emission, respectively.

• One component that nearly all bioluminescent reactions


have in common is the dependence on oxygen. While
molecular oxygen is used as an oxidizing agent in all
cases, different biochemical reactions are catalyzed and
various molecules are employed as luciferins.
Figure 1. Bioluminescent bacteria
Source: (Eberhard et al., 2011)
 
PURPOSE OF BIOLUMINESCENCE
• To warn or evade predators

• To lure or detect prey

• Communication between members of the same species


TYPES OF PROTEINS INVOLVED IN
BIOLUMINESCENCE EMISSION

• bacterial luciferin

• dinoflagellate luciferin

• firefly luciferin

• vargulin
APPLICATIONS OF BIOLUMINESCENCE FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
Knowledge of the lux gene organization has stimulated the use
of bioluminescence genes for the development of wholecell
biosensors that have a broad range of environmental
applications and they include;

• construction of biosensors for detection of contaminants

• measurement of pollutant toxicity

• monitoring of genetically engineered bacteria released into


the environment

• Biosensors have also been used as indicators of cellular


metabolic activity and for detection of pathogens.
CONCLUSION
The phenomenon of light emission by living organisms has
attracted many scientists of various fields for many decades. As
described in this review, bacterial bioluminescence is a wonderful
showcase for the tantalizing complexity of bioluminescence,
construction of biosensors for detection of contaminants.
Despite the progress achieved over the last decades, the
fascination with bioluminescence will surely prompt many more
research efforts to challenge the current frontiers of our
knowledge.

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