Glowing slime from tube worms shows longevity and self-generated illumination.
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have uncovered the mystery behind the bioluminescence of a marine parchment tube worm, shedding light on the potential for creating long-lasting, biodegradable, and rechargeable lighting solutions.
The research, led by Evelien De Meulenaere and her team, was published in the latest issue of The FASEB Journal last year. The team's findings were also scheduled to be presented at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology annual meeting in San Diego this month, before the event was unfortunately canceled in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The marine worm's slime emits a unique long-lasting blue light, a phenomenon that was initially puzzling to the researchers. Upon closer examination, they discovered that the light production was not linked with any of the organism's metabolic pathways. This revelation led them to realise that sustaining light production for more than a few milliseconds would require the slime to contain its own energy source.
Exposing the slime to blue light induces bursts of light lasting several minutes. The researchers found that the tube worm's bioluminescence could be used to create biomedical reporter systems, as well as a light-emitting reporter that works for several days, allowing for longer protein or cell tracking in experiments.
The research suggests that the process of creating and sustaining this light is self-powered. The tube worm's slime contains an iron storage protein called ferritin, which acts as a molecular battery that stores energy. Artificially adding iron to the mucus increased light production. Interestingly, exposing ferritin to blue light makes more iron available, potentially paving the way for a system that could be used to test for iron deficiencies or toxicities.
This exciting discovery could have far-reaching implications, informing the design of a light stick that works for several days, or with further optimization, environmentally friendly garden and street lighting. The potential applications extend beyond lighting, as the bioluminescence mechanism could also be used in biomedical research and diagnostics.
As we navigate through these challenging times, the world of science continues to push the boundaries of what's possible. The research into the bioluminescence of the marine parchment tube worm is a testament to the power of curiosity and the potential for nature to inspire innovative solutions.
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