Glowing corpses

and
Radiant excrement :
The role of bioluminescence
in microbial communities
Dr. Edie Widder, Co-Founder, CEO & Senior Scientist
Ocean Research & Conservation Association
www.teamorca.org

is a trademark of the Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Inc.

2009 Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Inc. All rights reserved.

Courtesy of Center for Environmental Biotechnology

University of Tennessee
Dr. Gary S. Sayler, Director

Pholas dactylus

Luciferins
O
CH2
N
N
H

(CHOH)3
H
N

CH2

OH

O
H

Bacteria

NH

O
N
H

Diplocardia

OCHO

CHO

Latia

O
N

OH

N
H

N
H
N

N
H

HO

Coelenterate

NH
NH2

Vargula

N
H

O
CO2
N

N
H

OAMP

NH
HO

Firefly

Dinoflagellate

H
N

HN
O CO2

Phylogenetic tree of
bioluminescence

Stauroteuthis syrtensis

Oxidative
Stress

Widder (2010) Bioluminescence

In the Ocean: Origins of Biological,
Chemical, and Ecological Diversity.
Science 328: 704-708

LUX Operon
Direction of
gene expression

Bacterial
Luciferase
Reductase Synthetase

Transferase

Fatty Acid Reductase Enzyme Complex

Photobacterium phosphoreum

Vibrio fischeri

Shewanella woodyi

Photorhabdus luminescens

Fraction of cells (%)

Vibrio harveyi in mixed culture experiment

Time (days)
Czyz, Plata and Wegrzyn (2003) Stimualtion of DNA repair as an evolutionary drive
for bacterial luminescence. Luminescence 18:140-144

Fraction of cells (%)

Vibrio harveyi in mixed culture experiment

during continuous irradiation with UV light

Time (days)
Czyz, Plata and Wegrzyn (2003) Stimualtion of DNA repair as an evolutionary drive
for bacterial luminescence. Luminescence 18:140-144

Thymine

Thymine

Photolyase
+
Blue
Light

DNA backbone

Photodimer

UV light

Radiant excrement

 E. Widder

Bacterial bioluminescence as a lure for marine

zooplankton and fish
Margarita Zarubin, Shimshon Belkin, Michael Ionescu, and Amatzia Genin

PNAS | January 17, 2012 | vol. 109 | no. 3 | 853857

Artemia salina
Apogon annularis

Infrared light illumination. Artemia with non-luminescent bacteria

Top
View

Side
View

Infrared light illumination. Artemia with luminescent bacteria

Top
View

Side
View

Functions of Bioluminescence:
Finding food
Finding mates
Defense
Blinding and distraction
Camouflage

 E. Widder

 E. Widder

Pinecone Fish Monocentris japonicas

Vibrio fischeri

caruncles

E. Widder

 E. Widder

 E. Widder

Drawing modified from Young (1977)

Glowing corpses

Nematode
(Heterorhabditis bacteriophora)

Moth larvae

Bioluminescent bacteria
(Photorhabdus luminescens)
Photo: Patrick Porter,
Texas A&M University

Photo: Peggy Greb

Photo: Marshall Johnson

Univ. of Hawaii

Bioluminescence in Photorhabdus
luminescens is selectively advantageous
because it functions as bioluminescent
aposematism or Batesian or Mllerian
mimicry protecting the insect cadaver from
predators.

Photo: Marshall Johnson

Univ. of Hawaii

Functions of Bioluminescence:
Finding food
Finding mates
Defense
Blinding and distraction
Camouflage
Warning

 Aposematic warning a warning signal to

potential predators

 Aposematic warning a warning signal to

potential predators
Monarch
butterfly

 Aposematic warning a warning signal to

potential predators
Monarch
butterfly

Batesian mimicry Mimic assumes

conspicuous markings but lacks defense
Hornet
moth

Yellowjacket
wasp

 Aposematic warning a warning signal to

potential predators
Monarch
butterfly

Batesian mimicry Mimic assumes

conspicuous markings but lacks defense
Hornet
moth

Yellowjacket
wasp

Mllerian mimicry - Prey share effective

antipredator defense and employ similar
Viceroy
markings Honeybee
butterfly

Bioluminescent aposematism in firefly larvae

De Cock & Matthysen (2002) Glow-worm larvae bioluminescence (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

operates as an aposematic signal upon toads (Bufo bufo). Behavioral Ecology 14 (1): 103108

Clytia languidum

Clytia languidum

Clytia languidum

Bioluminescent aposematism in millipedes

Marek, Papaj, Yeager, Molina and Moore (2001) Current Biology 21(18):R680-R681

Bioluminescent aposematism in millipedes

Marek, Papaj, Yeager, Molina and Moore (2001) Current Biology 21(18):R680-R681

Lango and Clarke (2010) A metabolic switch is involved in lifestyle decisions in

Photorhabdus luminescens. Molecular Microbiology 77(6), 13941405

With thanks to:

Jim Case
Peter Herring
Sonke Johnsen
Bruce Robison
R/V Seward Johnson &
JSL Submersible Crew

FAST
FAST ASSESSMENT OF SEDIMENT TOXICITY
MICROTOX BIOASSAY

Vero Beach
Map a Mile

17th Street Bridge

(ppm)

Pollution
Gradient Map

ndian River Lagoon

Sediment Toxicity

 PIXAR

Mllerian mimicry in apheloriine millipedes of the U.S. Appalachian Mountains.

Marek P E , Bond J E PNAS 2009;106:9755-9760

2009 by National Academy of Sciences

Photolyase repair of UV damaged DNA

Model of the transmission cycle.

Ciche T A et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2008;74:2275-2287

Pyrosoma atlanticum