Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(3): 187-193 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 03 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Review Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.703.022 Bioluminescence in Insect I. Yimjenjang Longkumer and Ram Kumar* Department of Entomology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar-848125, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Bioluminescence is defined as the emission of light from a living organism K e yw or ds that performs some biological function. Bioluminescence is one of the Fireflies, oldest fields of scientific study almost dating from the first written records Bioluminescence , of the ancient Greeks. This article describes the investigations of insect Luciferin luminescence and the crucial role imparted in the activities of insect. Many Article Info facets of this field are easily accessible for investigation without need for Accepted: advanced technology and so, within the History of Science, investigations 04 February 2018 of bioluminescence played a significant role in the establishment of the Available Online: scientific method, and also were among the many visual phenomena to be 10 March 2018 accounted for in developing a theory of light. Introduction Bioluminescence (BL) serves various purposes, including sexual attraction and When a living organism produces and emits courtship, predation and defense (Hastings and light as a result of a chemical reaction, the Wilson, 1976). This process is suggested to process is known as Bioluminescence - bio have arisen after O2 appearance on Earth at means 'living' in Greek while `lumen means least 30 different times during evolution, as 'light' in Latin. During the process, chemical reflected by the existence of several energy is converted into light energy. luciferin/luciferase systems leading to different patterns of light emission i.e. color, The process is caused by an enzyme-catalyzed intensity, timing, etc (Hastings, 1983). chemolumine scence reaction. Bio Bioluminescence has possibly evolved from luminescence is a product of a chemical early ultra-weak chemiluminescent oxidase- reaction in an organism, It involves a class of catalysed reactions to become very efficient chemicals called luciferins ("light bringers“). functional light-emitting processes (quantum- The luciferin oxidizes in the presence of a yield of BL of fireflies=0.88) (Seliger, 1975; catalytic enzyme (luciferase) to create light Viviani and Bechara, 1996). A primal function and an ineffective compound (oxyluciferin). in O2 detoxification, coupled with 187 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(3): 187-193 evolutionary advantages offered by specific freshwater snail Latianeritoides. Firefly light communication, may have allowed these luciferin is the luciferin found in many species to prosper. Lampyridae species. It is the substrate of luciferase responsible for the characteristic Bioluminescence Origin yellow light emission from fireflies. The Greeks and Romans were the first to Bacterial luciferin is a type of luciferin found report the characteristics of luminous in bacteria, some of which live within the organisms. Aristotle (384-322 BC) described specialized tissues of some squid and fish. The 180 marine species and was the first to molecule contains a reduced riboflavin recognize "cold light." The Greeks also made phosphate (Green and McElroy, 1956b). reference to sea phosphorescence (about 500 BC) (Harvey, 1957). The first book devoted to Coelenterazine is found in radiolarians, bioluminescence and chemilumine scence was ctenophores, cnidarians, squid, brittle stars, published in 1555 by Conrad Gesner (1555; copepods, chaetognaths, fish, and shrimp. It is Carter and Kricka, 1982; Harvey, 1957). the prosthetic group in the protein aequorin responsible for the blue light emission. Later in 19th century Raphael Dubois performed a significant experiment where he Dinoflagellate luciferin is a chlorophyll extracted the two key components of a derivative (i.e. a tetrapyrrole) and is found in bioluminescent reaction and was able to some dinoflagellates, which are often generate light. He coined the terms responsible for the phenomenon of night time “luciferine” and the heat labile “luciferase”. glowing waves (historically this was called The first luciferin was isolated in 1956 (Green phosphorescence, but is a misleading term). and McElroy, 1956a). A very similar type of luciferin is found in Structure of luciferin some types of euphausiid shrimp (Shimomura and Johnson, 1975). Vargulin is found in Luciferins (from the Latin lucifer, "light- certain ostracods and deep-sea fish, to be bringer") are a class of light emitting specific, Poricthys. Like the compound heterocyclic compounds found in organisms coelenterazine, it is an imidazopyrazinone and that cause bioluminescence. emits primarily blue light in the animals. Luciferins are a class of small- Luciferin oxidation (typical for fireflies) with molecule substrates that are oxidized in the oxygen under luciferase catalysis in the presence of the enzyme luciferase to produce presence of Mg2+ salts and ATP. In the first oxyluciferin and energy in the form of light. It phase, luciferin reacts with oxygen under ATP is not known just how many types of luciferins consumption, Mg2+ assistance and luciferase there are, but some of the better-studied catalysis to yield a reactive, highly unstable compounds are listed below. There are many intermediate Int1. This intermediate is types of luciferins, yet all share the use decomposing in the second stage into carbon of reactive oxygen species to emit light. dioxide and intermediate Int2 in excited state (Phase 2). Int2 undergoes de-excitation by Snail: Latialuciferin is, in terms of chemistry, emission of a photon with a characteristic (E)-2-methyl-4-(2, 6, 6-trimethyl-1-cyclohex- wavelength (Phase 3). In case of luciferin, the 1-yl)-1-buten-1-ol formate and is from the emission maximum is at 550-570 nm. 188 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(3): 187-193 Diversity of bioluminescence in insects prey has also been reported in the larvae of the Brazilian Pyrearinuster mitilluminans click Luminescence in terrestrial arthropods is beetle, which display the phenomenon of found in Myriapoda and more extensively in luminous termite mounds (Bechara, 1988). insects (Herring, 1987). Recently, luminescence was also reported in Amazonian Diptera species of Blattodea (Zompro and Fritzsche, 1999). In Diptera, luminescence is found in the Mycetophilidae. The best known are Coleoptera (beetles) Arachnocampa species from New Zealand caves and the Australasian region (Meyer, The beetles have the largest number and 1990), whose larvae construct webs on the variety of luminescent species. They are found roof of caves. Other luminescent mainly in the superfamily Elateroidea (former mycetophilids are found in the genera Cantharoidea and Elateroidea), which includes Keroplatus and Orfelia (Harvey, 1952). fireflies (Lampyridae), railroad worms Orfelia fultoni is another web-building (Phengodidae), click beetles (Elateridae), and species, which occurs in stream banks of the related families. Appalachian mountains of eastern USA (Fulton, 1941). Luminescence has also been found in a luminescent larva of Xantholinusin the Functions Staphylinidae (Costa et al., 1986) and larvae and adults of an undetermined species. Larvae of Arachnocampa construct webs on the roof of caves and use their continuous Fireflies emit green-yellow flashes blue-green luminescence to attract the flying characterized by duration, interval, and insects on which they prey. Luminescence is frequency from ventral lanterns for sexual- produced at the terminal end of Malpighi attraction purposes (Lloyd, 1971; Seliger, tubules (Gatenby, 1959). 1964; Viviani, 2001). When a male lands on a female pupa she Click beetles have two dorsal prothoracic glows, and when she is ready to emerge, up to lanterns, which usually emit continuous green three males may be clinging to her. A light, and a ventral abdominal light organ that mounted male has to fight off rivals that emits continuous green-orange light when the attempt to displace him. Newly emerged insect is flying. females use their light to attract males if none are present (Richards, 1960). Railroad worms emit the widest range of colors among luminescent beetles, including Hemiptera some of the most spectacular examples with larvae and females having rows of lateral Planthoppers in the family Fulgoridae lanterns along the body emitting green-orange (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea; commonly called light and, in addition, South-American species lanternflies) are bizarreand charismatic with cephalic lanterns emitting from yellow- insects. Many fulgorid species are brilliantly green to red light depending on the species. In colored, and some produce cuticular waxes the larval stage, bioluminescence assumes comprised mostly of keto Esters (Mason et al., mainly defensive functions but attraction of 1989). 189 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(3): 187-193 Bioluminescent Colour Variation in Insect Phengodids paired green lights on each segment and redlights at the end Arachnocampa blue green Fulgora White light. Photinus and Lampyris Yellow-green in color (520–650 nm) Phrixothrix Larval and adult female, thorax and abdomen produce green to orange light (530–590 nm). That on the head produces red light (580 nm to over 700 nm) Structure of Luciferin Firefly Luciferin Fig.1 Mechanism of luciferin bioluminescence