In a striking new study published in Science Advances, a team of synthetic biologists led by Karen Sarkisyan at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, have reported the discovery of multiple plant enzymes—hispidin synthases—that can perform the most complex reaction of the bioluminescence pathway.
Harnessing the mechanisms of fungal bioluminescence to confer autonomous luminescence in plant and animal cellsBy exploiting the hispidin synthase pathway in plants, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences scientists have created Chrysanthemums that glow in the dark.
"This technology is a plug-and-play tool to visualize virtually any molecular physiology at the organismal level, completely non-invasively," Sarkisyan states. His work also revealed that not only does a single indigenous plant gene effectively substitute for two, the plant gene is notably smaller and has simpler biological requirements for luminescence. The gene's reduced size also enhances its usability and flexibility, making it more adaptable for extended applications.
Beyond the advances in aesthetics that luminous vegetation may provide to plant lovers, the foundational science offers profound insights into plant molecular physiology. By enabling continuous monitoring of plant responses to various stresses, such asPetunias created to glow in the dark by using metabolic machinery from naturally bioluminescent mushrooms. Credit: Karen Sarkysian, MRC_LMS
"We love growing our bioluminescent petunias, they are truly magical. But beyond aesthetics, understanding how we can adapt self-sustained luminescence to monitorMRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences synthetic biologist Karen Sarkysian observes his glowing plants which could one day be used to signal health or disease. Credit: LightBio
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