Multiple Origins of Bioluminescence in Beetles and Evolution of Luciferase Function.

ABSTRACT: Bioluminescence in beetles has long fascinated biologists, with diverse applications in biotechnology. To date, however, our understanding of its evolutionary origin and functional variation mechanisms remains poor. To address these questions, we obtained high-quality reference genomes of luminous and nonluminous beetles in 6 Elateroidea families. We then reconstructed a robust phylogenetic relationship for all luminous families and related nonluminous families. Comparative genomic analyses and biochemical functional experiments suggested that gene evolution within Elateroidea played a crucial role in the origin of bioluminescence, with multiple parallel origins observed in the luminous beetle families. While most luciferase-like proteins exhibited a conserved nonluminous amino acid patter

SUBMITTER: He J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10798137 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature