The Evolution of Bioluminescence

• Which biological molecules and processes form the evolutionary foundations of bioluminescence?
• Photic organ morphology and evolution.

• Dubuisson, Marlene et al. Firefly luciferin as antioxidant and light emitter: the evolution of insect bioluminescence. Luminescence (Chichester). 19(6). November 2004. 339-344.
• Branham, Marc A. et al. The origin of photic behavior and the evolution of sexual communication in fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Cladistics. 19(1). February 2003. 1-22.

• Factors regulating the chemical reaction/kinetics of the firefly flash and the production of luminescence (calcium, mitcochonrial respiration, nitric oxide, etc.)

• What is the role of luciferase in the luminescence reaction?
• Factors affecting the function of luciferase and its ability to initiate chemical processes.

• Fraga, Hugo et al. Coenzyme A affects firefly luciferase luminescence because it acts as a substrate and not as an allosteric effector. FEBS Journal. 272(20). OCT 2005. 5206-5216.
• Takehara, Ko et al. Inhibition of firefly luciferase by alkane analogues. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 1721(1-3). January 18, 2005. 124-129.

• What causes variation in the color/freq. of light produced by different species of fireflies? (pH, luciferase conformation, temp., etc.)

• Nakatsu, Toru et al. Structural basis for the spectral difference in luciferase bioluminescence. Nature (London). 440(7082). MAR 16 2006. 372-376.
• Ugarova, N. N. et al. Bioluminescence spectra of native and mutant firefly luciferases as a function of pH. Biochemistry (Moscow). 70(11). NOV 2005. 1262-1267.
• Viviani, Vadim R. et al. A new firefly luciferase with bimodal spectrum: Identification of structural determinants of spectral pH-sensitivity in firefly luciferases. Photochemistry & Photobiology. 81(4). JUL-AUG 2005. 843-848.
• Ugarova, N. N. et al. Protein structure and bioluminescent spectra for firefly bioluminescence. Luminescence (Chichester). 17(5). September-October 2002. 321-330.
  

• Focuses on the physical structures that produce the luminescence reaction.
• Anatomy of the firefly (?).

• Discusses the envrionmental and physical factors that influence courtship and mate selection among females, including season, female mass, and flash frequency/duration.
• How flash intervals are used by fireflies to recognize members of their own species (not exactly 'physiology', but still interesting!)

• Michaelidis, Constantinos I. et al. Male courtship signals and female signal assessment in Photinus greeni fireflies. Behavioral Ecology. 17(3). MAY-JUN 2006. 329-335.
• Tamura, Masayoshi et al. Geographic differences in flash intervals and pre-mating isolation between populations of the Genji firefly, Luciola cruciata. Ecological Entomology. 30(2). APR 05. 241-245.
• Copeland, Jonathan et al. Flash precision at the start of synchrony in Photuris frontalis. Integrative & Comparative Biology. 44(3). June 2004. 259-263.
• Cratsley, Christopher K. et al. Flash signals, nuptial gifts and female preference in Photinus fireflies. Integrative & Comparative Biology. 44(3). June 2004. 238-241.
  

• How do the ranges/shapes of bioluminescence spectra in larval fireflies compare to adults?
• Implications of such differences from an ecological standpoint.