Viviani, V. R.Prado, R. A.Arnoldi, F. C. G. [UNESP]Abdalla, Fábio Camargo [UNESP]2014-05-202014-05-202009-01-01Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. Cambridge: Royal Soc Chemistry, v. 8, n. 1, p. 57-61, 2009.1474-905Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/11449/19782The evolutionary origin of beetle bioluminescence is enigmatic. Previously, weak luciferase activity was found in the non-bioluminescent larvae of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), but the detailed tissular origin and identity of the luciferase-like enzyme remained unknown. Using a closely related giant mealworm, Zophobas morio, here we show that the luciferase-like enzyme is located in the Malpighi tubules. cDNA cloning of this luciferase like enzyme, showed that it is a short AMP-ligase with weak luciferase activity which diverged long ago from beetle luciferases. The results indicate that the potential for bioluminescence in AMP-ligases is very ancient and provide a first reasonable protoluciferase model to investigate the origin and evolution of beetle luciferases.57-61engArtigo10.1039/b817114aWOS:000263848000008Acesso restrito