China News Service, May 4 (Xinhua) According to Taiwan ’s United News Network, scientists have successfully used biotechnology to successfully transplant the gene of the light-emitting mushroom to the tobacco plant, so that the plant can continue to emit bright green visible light throughout its life cycle.
According to reports, bioluminescence refers to a phenomenon in which chemical reactions occur in a living body, converting chemical energy into light energy, and then self-luminous. The fireflies are most familiar to everyone. In addition to fireflies, bioluminescence actually occurs in some fungi, fish, and marine invertebrates. However, in the past, it was often overlooked whether plants can exhibit this characteristic.
Scientists transplanted the gene of the light-emitting mushroom to the tobacco plant, so that the plant can continue to emit bright green visible light throughout its life cycle. Image source: British "Daily Mail" official "Twitter" screenshot.
Currently, the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Austrian Institute of Science and Technology, the London Institute of Medical Sciences and Planta, a Russian biotech startup, are working to extract special DNA from a light-emitting mushroom and implant it in tobacco plants (growth Rapid and simple genetics), found that genetically modified tobacco plants throughout the life cycle (seed, germination, maturity to wither), roots, stems, leaves, flowers can emit green light visible to the naked eye.
In fact, the mushroom itself is not closely related to the plant. The key lies in the organic molecule called caffeic acid. All plants need this molecule to make the cell wall. The molecule in the mushroom involves the metabolic cycle of 4 enzymes To produce light. First, the two enzymes convert caffeic acid into a luminescent precursor, which is then processed by the third enzyme to become an oxidized molecule capable of emitting photons. The fourth enzyme then converts the molecule back to caffeic acid for continuous circulation.
The research team transferred these four enzymes unique to mushrooms to tobacco plants. Although scientists used to combine enzymes in fireflies to design plants that emit light for a short time, the brightness of the plants combined with the DNA of mushrooms this time increased by 10 times and continued to emit light. , Without the need to resort to external chemicals.
It is reported that this technological breakthrough will provide scientists with a new method of observing the internal operation of plants. As for the market, it can also be used in ornamental or decorative plants. The research team reports that they are currently experimenting with other luminescent plants, including periwinkle. , Petunia and roses.
It is reported that the new paper was published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.