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from the all-reports-gave-it-a-glowing-review dept.
the scientists discovered a set of enzymes that produce this molecule [luciferin], as well as luciferase, a light-emitting enzyme. The researchers used various types of cells to test activity of the luciferase, including human cancer cells and clawed frog embryos. In all cases, they obtained positive results: The gene introduced was active in cells, making them luminesce upon addition of luciferin
"If you understand how a bioluminescent system works, you can put the necessary components in a test tube and see luminescence. An important stage in our work was to identify the principal enzymes of fungal luminescence: those that catalyze biosynthesis of luciferin and the luciferase. We succeeded using a combination of analytical methods that allowed us to 'disassemble' the entire system into its components," says Konstantin Purtov, research fellow at the Institute of Biophysics in Krasnoyarsk and one of the researchers on the project.
The fungal luminescence system turned out to be surprisingly simple. Scientists discovered enzymes that perform the caffeic acid cycle in fungal cells—a pathway for the biosynthesis of luciferin and emission of light. Activity of these enzymes is necessary and sufficient for any caffeic-acid-producing organism to become luminescent. And if an organism does not contain caffeic acid, luminescence can be induced by adding two more enzymes, which the authors demonstrated by engineering a yeast strain that glows in the dark.
At last, the path to glow-in-the-dark croutons is clear.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday November 28 2018, @02:46PM (3 children)
Soon to be followed by glow in the dark piss.
Then would people absorb any of the bioluminescent cells from the beverage into their bloodstream? Could they absorb enough to be very faintly glowing? Imagine the marketing.
Can a self replicating bioluminescent micro organism be engineered so that mass production is easy? In sufficient quantities to mass produce children's breakfast cereals?
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday November 28 2018, @02:54PM
Hey kids, try this new glowing lacto-fermented oatmeal [thekitchn.com].
Gee whiz!
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by The Archon V2.0 on Wednesday November 28 2018, @06:58PM (1 child)
There's a quick and dirty way to find out the biological response - fireflies use the same luciferin/luciferase chemical reaction.
Anyone here wanna eat a bunch of lightning bugs?
(Score: 2) by suburbanitemediocrity on Wednesday November 28 2018, @07:35PM
Regular peanut butter glows in the dark if you hit it with a laser.