@article {60124, title = {A new brilliantly blue-emitting luciferin-luciferase system from Orfelia fultoni and Keroplatinae (Diptera)}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {10}, year = {2020}, month = {Jan-12-2020}, abstract = {

Larvae of O. fultoni (Keroplatidae: Keroplatinae), which occur along river banks in the Appalachian Mountains in Eastern United States, produce the bluest bioluminescence among insects from translucent areas associated to black bodies, which are\  located mainly in the anterior and posterior parts of the body. Although closely related to Arachnocampa spp (Keroplatidae: Arachnocampininae), O.fultoni has a morphologically and biochemically distinct bioluminescent system which evolved independently, requiring a luciferase enzyme, a luciferin, a substrate binding fraction (SBF) that releases luciferin in the presence of mild reducing agents, molecular oxygen, and no additional cofactors. Similarly, the closely related Neoceroplatus spp, shares the same kind of luciferin-luciferase system of Orfelia fultoni. However, the molecular properties, identities and functions of luciferases, SBf and luciferin of Orfelia fultoni and other\  luminescent members of the Keroplatinae subfamily still remain to be fully elucidated. Using O. fultoni as a source of luciferase, and the recently discovered non-luminescent cave worm Neoditomiya sp as the main source of luciferin and SBF, we isolated and initially characterized these compounds. The luciferase of O. fultoni is a stable enzyme active as an apparent trimer (220 kDa) composed of ~70 kDa monomers, with an optimum pH of 7.8. The SBF, which is found in the black bodies in Orfelia fultoni and in smaller dark granules in Neoditomiya sp, consists of a high molecular weight complex of luciferin and proteins, apparently associated to mitochondria. The luciferin, partially purified from hot extracts by a combination of anion exchange chromatography and TLC, is a very polar and weakly fluorescent compound, whereas its oxidized product displays blue fluorescence with an emission spectrum matching the bioluminescence spectrum (~460 nm), indicating that it is oxyluciferin. The widespread occurrence of luciferin and SBF in both luminescent and non-luminescent Keroplatinae larvae indicate an additional important biological function for the substrate, and therefore the name keroplatin

}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-020-66286-1}, url = {http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-66286-1}, author = {Viviani, Vadim R. and Silva, Jaqueline R. and Amaral, Danilo T. and Bevilaqua, Vanessa R. and Abdalla, Fabio C. and Branchini, Bruce R. and Johnson, Carl H.} } @article {26784, title = {Chetoneura shennonggongensis, a new species of cave-dwelling Keroplatini from China (Diptera : Keroplatidae), with a discussion of the position of Chetoneura}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {1716}, year = {2008}, pages = {59-68}, abstract = {Chetoneura shennonggongensis Amorim \& Niu, sp. n., inhabiting caves in East China, is described based on the adult male and female, plus larva. Chetoneura Colless, previously associated with Orfelia and known from a single species from caves in Malaysia, is formally transferred to the Keroplatini. This is the first description of the larva and of the general biology of the genus. The larva of this new species is suspended in a roughly horizontal hammock of silken threads amidst mucous coated snare threads from the roof of caves, but is not bioluminescent as some species of other genera in Keroplatidae ( e. g., Arachnocampa, Keroplatus, and Orfelia). A key to separate both species of the genus is provided. The position of the genus within the Keroplatini is considered. Chetoneura is considered to be closely related to a clade containing Heteropterna and Ctenoceridion.}, url = {http://www.online-keys.net/sciaroidea/2000_/Amorim\&Niu_2008_Zootaxa1716.pdf}, author = {Amorim, Dalton de Sousa and Niu, C. and Li, X. Z. and Lei, C. L. and Clarke, A. K.} } @article {23398, title = {Glowworms: a review of Arachnocampa spp. and kin}, journal = {Luminescence}, volume = {22}, year = {2007}, month = {02/2007}, pages = {251-265}, abstract = {The term {\textquoteright}glowworm{\textquoteright} is used in connection with the flightless females of lampyrid fireflies and to describe the luminescent larvae of certain fungus gnats that belong to the subfamilies Arachnocampinae, Keroplatinae and Macrocerinae of the dipteran family Keroplatidae. This review focuses on the luminescent larval fungus gnats. The weakly luminescent species of the Holarctic feed mainly on fungal spores, but some, such as Orfelia fultoni, have turned to a carnivorous diet. Larval Australian and New Zealand Arachnocampa spp. produce brighter in vivo (but not necessarily in vitro) lights, live in cool, damp and dark places and are exclusively predatory. They lure their prey (usually small flying insects) with the help of their blue-green light emissions towards snares consisting of vertical silk threads coated with sticky mucus droplets. Fungus gnats with similar {\textquoteright}fishing lines{\textquoteright} are found in the Neotropics, but they are not luminescent. The larval stage is longest in the life cycle of Arachnocampa, lasting up to a year, depending on climatic conditions such as temperature and humidity as well as food supply. In A. luminosa, but not the Australian A. flava, female pupae and even female imagines are luminescent. However, it remains to be demonstrated whether it is the light of the female, a pheromone or both that attract the males. Light organs and the chemical reactions to produce light differ between the holarctic and the Australian/New Zealand species. Prey is attracted only by the glowworm{\textquoteright}s light; odours of the fishing lines or the glowworms themselves are not involved. Recognition of the prey by the glowworm involves mechano- and chemoreception. The eyes of both larval and adult glowworms are large and functional over a spectral range covering UV to green wavelengths. Adults are poor fliers, live only for a few days, have degenerate mouth parts and do not feed. Maintenance of glowworms in captivity is possible and the impact of tourism on glowworms in natural settings can be minimized through appropriate precautions.}, author = {Meyer-Rochow, V. B.} } @article {23167, title = {Two bioluminescent diptera: The North American Orfelia fultoni and the Australian Arachnocampa flava. Similar niche, different bioluminescence systems}, journal = {Photochemistry and Photobiology}, volume = {75}, number = {1}, year = {2002}, note = {ArticleEnglish}, pages = {22-27}, abstract = {Orfelia fultoni is the only bioluminescent dipteran (Mycetophilidae) found in North America. Its larvae live on stream banks in the Appalachian Mountains. Like their Australasian relative Arachnocampa spp., they build sticky webs to which their bioluminescence attracts flying prey. They bear two translucent lanterns at the extremities of the body, histologically distinct from the single caudal lantern of Arachnocampa spp., and emit the bluest bioluminescence recorded for luminescent insects (lambdamax=460 nm versus 484 nm from Arachnocampa). A preliminary characterization of these two bioluminescent systems indicates that they are markedly different. In Orfelia a luciferin-luciferase reaction was demonstrated by mixing a hot extract prepared with dithiothreitol (DTT) under argon with a crude cold extract. Bioluminescence is not activated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) but is strongly stimulated by DTT and ascorbic acid. Using gel filtration, we isolated a luciferase fraction of apprx140 kDa and an additional high molecular weight fraction (possibly a luciferin-binding protein) that activated bioluminescence in the presence of luciferase and DTT. The Arachnocampa luciferin-luciferase system involves a 36 kDa luciferase and a luciferin soluble in ethyl acetate under acidic conditions; the bioluminescence is activated by ATP but not by DTT. The present findings indicate that the bioluminescence of O. fultoni constitutes a novel bioluminescent system unrelated to that of Arachnocampa.}, keywords = {111839-44-2Q; argon-: 7440-37-1; ascorbic-acid: 50-81-7Q, 121295-11-2Q; Appalachian-Mountains: USA-, 21730-91-6Q, 42530-29-0Q, 50909-86-9Q, 55779-48-1Q, 58947-91-4Q, 61369-27-5Q, 61869-41-8Q, 61969-99-1Q, 61970-00-1Q, 62213-54-1Q, 62624-30-0Q; dithiothereitol-: DTT-; ethyl-acetate: 141-78-6; luciferase-: 9014-00-0Q, 7273-34-9Q, 76106-81-5Q; luciferin-: 2591-17-5Q, 94587-45-8Q, Animalia-; Arachnocampa-flava (Diptera-): Australian-, Arthropoda-, Arthropods-, Bioenergetics-: Biochemistry-and-Molecular-Biophysics; Radiation-Biology; [75314-] Diptera-, bioluminescent-, bioluminescent-; Keroplatus- (Diptera-): bioluminescent-; Orfelia-fultoni (Diptera-): North-American, Insecta-, Insects-, Invertebrata-, Invertebrates-; caudal-lantern; ATP-: 56-65-5Q, larvae-; Diptera-: Animals-, Nearctic-region; 56-65-5Q; 42530-29-0Q; 94587-45-8Q; 111839-44-2Q; 7440-37-1; 50-81-7Q; 62624-30-0Q; 141-78-6; 9014-00-0Q; 61869-41-8Q; 61969-99-1Q; 61970-00-1Q; 62213-54-1Q; 76106-81-5Q; 2591-17-5Q;, North-America}, url = {http://www.online-keys.net/sciaroidea/add01/Viviani_et_al_2002_fultoni_\&_aracnocampa.pdf}, author = {Viviani, Vadim R. and Hastings, J. Woodland and Wilson, Therese} } @article {22780, title = {Zur Kenntnis der Praimaginalstadien der Pilzmucken (Diptera, Mycetophiloidea). Teil 1: Gespinstbau}, journal = {ZOOLOGISCHE JAHRBUECHER ABTEILUNG FUER ANATOMIE UND ONTOGENIE DER TIERE}, volume = {101}, number = {2}, year = {1979}, pages = {168-266}, keywords = {Mycetophiloidea; CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION; Webs ; \&; cocoons; FOOD-CAPTURE; LARVA-; Web structure ; \&; chemical composition; PUPA-; Cocoon chemical composition; COCOONS-; WEBS-; Structure ; \&; chemical composition; * INSECTA-; ** DIPTERA-; Mycetophiloidea;}, author = {Plachter, H.} } @article {22782, title = {Zur Kenntnis der Praimaginalstadien der Pilzmucken (Diptera, Mycetophiloidea). Teil 2: Eidonomie der Larven}, journal = {ZOOLOGISCHE JAHRBUECHER ABTEILUNG FUER ANATOMIE UND ONTOGENIE DER TIERE}, volume = {101}, number = {3}, year = {1979}, pages = {271-392}, keywords = {comprehensive account, Mycetophiloidea; HEAD-; TERMINAL-REGION; MOUTHPARTS-; Morphology; CUTICLE-; SENSORY-RECEPTION; SPIRACLES-; External anatomy; LARVA-; External morphology, taxonomic relationships; PHYLOGENY-; Relationships of families ; \&; subfamilies; * INSECTA-; ** DIPTERA-; Mycetophiloidea; Invertebrates; Arthropods; Insects; Dipterans/True Flies}, author = {Plachter, H.} }