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Revision as of 12:14, 7 September 2021
BIOLUMINESCENCE
IN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
![comic character Mark](images/T--Groningen--Education_SB1_curve1.png)
Mark, or formally known
as Vibrio harveyi,
is a bioluminescent bacterium.
Bioluminescence
is the ability of some
organisms to produce
visible light.
![bioluminescent jellyfish](images/T--Groningen--Education_SB1_curve2.png)
Other examples of
bioluminescent organisms
include jellyfish, fireflies,
and Jack-O-Latern
mushrooms.
![shadow of a jellyfish](images/T--Groningen--Education_SB1_curve3_a.png)
DID YOU
KNOW?
Bioluminescence is used for various purposes,
such as attracting a significant other,
luring prey, and camouflage.
Arguably
the most interesting use
is found in some squid species
wich can detach a glowing
body part when in the proximity
of a predator.
This allows them to run away
while the predator is tussling
with the illuminating
body part.
![glowing body part](images/T--Groningen--Education_SB1_curve3_c.png)
![enzyme](images/T--Groningen--Education_SB1_curve4.png)
All bioluminescent organisms
have enzymes called lufiferases.
These enzymes catalyze a production
of molecules that emit light.
![part of DNA](images/T--Groningen--Education_SB1_curve5.png)
Luciferases
are often used
in synthetic biology
to study parts of DNA called
PROMOTERS
Promoters
are important
because they determine
how much of a certain protein
is being produced
by the organism.
The amount of a
protein produced
depends on the strenght
of a specific promoter.
![strong promoter with many enzymes](images/T--Groningen--Education_SB1_curve6_strong_promoter.png)
![weak promoter with few enzymes](images/T--Groningen--Education_SB1_curve6_weak_promoter.png)
Finding a better promoter allows
synthetic biologists to improve the production of
commertially important proteins, such as insulin
and proteins used in vaccines.
The number of
LUCIFERASES
produced by an organism can be easily calculated
from the intensity of the emitted light.
Therefore, synthetic biologists monitor
the production of luciferases to
determine the strenght of the promoter that is
promoting its production.
![more brightly shining comic character Mark](images/T--Groningen--Education_SB1_curve7_strong_promoter.png)
Mark with
a strong promoter
for luciferases
![less brightly shining comic character Mark](images/T--Groningen--Education_SB1_curve7_weak_promoter.png)
Mark with
a weak promoter
for luciferases