World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING AND BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF LUCIFERIN PROTEIN IN FIREFLY (LAMPYRIDAE)

Revathi A., Nithya G. and Shoba K.*

ABSTRACT

The Lampyridae are a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs. Luciferin (from the Latin Lucifer, "light-bringer") is the light-emitting compound found in organisms that generate bioluminescenceFirefly luciferin is the luciferin, or light-emitting compound, found in many firefly (Lampyridae) species. It is the substrate of luciferase which is responsible for the characteristic yellow light emission from many firefly species. Luciferase can be used as markers to detect blood clots, to tag tuberculosis virus cells, and to monitor hydrogen peroxide levels in living organisms (hydrogen peroxide is believed to play a role in the progression of some diseases, like cancer and diabetes).scientists can now use a synthetic form of luciferase for most research, so the commercial harvest of fireflies has decreased. The nucleotide sequence of luciferin protein is retrieved from NCBI. Through Ace view gene structure analysis of luciferin were carried out. The chromosomal mapping of luciferin gene is done by Gene card. With the help of J cat and Amigo gene expression analysis were done. The phylogenetic analysis of luciferin gene is carry out by clustal W. The 3D structure of firefly luciferin is modeled using Swiss model Server. This work would definitely be useful in the field of Clinical Pathology, Computational Entomology and Cheminformatics.

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