真菌发光途径的研究与应用进展

Fungal luminescence pathways: research and applications

摘要:

真菌发光途径(fungal bioluminescence pathway, FBP)是一种来源于真菌的生物发光代谢途径。其能够利用FBP途径基因簇表达的蛋白，以咖啡酸为底物，合成真菌荧光素，在真菌荧光素酶的催化下，生成不稳定高能小分子，之后分子能量衰减释放出波长约为520 nm的绿色荧光。在发光真菌中，真菌发光途径基因在进化上非常保守。与其他生物发光系统不同的是，真菌发光途径适合于真核生物，特别是植物中的工程化应用。目前，经过代谢路径优化的发光植物可以持续发出肉眼可见光，照亮周围环境。该发光系统在生物检测、生物传感器、发光园艺植物培育和绿色照明等领域具有广阔的应用前景。

Abstract:

The fungal bioluminescence pathway (FBP) is a metabolic pathway responsible for the generation of bioluminescence derived from fungi. This pathway utilizes caffeic acid as the substrate, generating a high-energy intermediate, and the decomposition of which yields green fluorescence with a wavelength of approximately 520 nm. The FBP is evolutionally conserved in luminescent fungal groups. Unlike other bioluminescent systems, the FBP is particularly suitable for engineering applications in eukaryotic organisms, especially in plants. Currently, metabolically engineered luminescent plants are able to emit visible light to illuminate its surroundings, which can be visualized clearly in the dark. The fungal bioluminescent system could be explored in various applications in molecular biology, biosensors and glowing ornamental plants, and even green lighting along city streets.