Cloning and characterization of the cDNA for the Brazilian Cratomorphus distinctus larval firefly luciferase: Similarities with European Lampyris noctiluca and Asiatic Pyrocoelia luciferases

Studies on firefly (Lampyridae) luciferases have focused on nearctic species of Photinus and Photuris and Euroasiatic species of Lampyris, Luciola, Hotaria, and Pyrocoelia. Despite accounting for the greatest diversity of fireflies in the world, no molecular studies have been carried out on the highly diverse genera from the neotropical region. Here we report the luciferase cDNA cloning for the larva of the Brazilian firefly Cratomorphus distinctus. The cDNA has 1978 bp and codes for a 547-residue-long polypeptide. Noteworthy, sequence comparison as well as functional properties show the highest degree of similarity with Lampyris noctiluca (93%) and Pyrocoelia spp. (91%) luciferases, suggesting a close phylogenetic relationship despite the geographical distance separating these species. The bioluminescence emission spectrum peaks at 550 nm and, as expected, is sensitive to pH, shifting to 605 nm at pH 6. The kinetic properties of the recombinant luciferase were similar to those of other firefly luciferases. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The influence of the loop between residues 223-235 in beetle luciferase bioluminescence spectra: A solvent gate for the active site of pH-sensitive luciferases

Beetle luciferases emit a wide range of bioluminescence colors, ranging from green to red. Firefly luciferases can shift the spectrum to red in response to pH and temperature changes, whereas click beetle and railroadworm luciferases do not. Despite many studies on firefly luciferases, the origin of pH-sensitivity is far from being understood. Through comparative site-directed mutagenesis and modeling studies, using the pH-sensitive luciferases (Macrolampis and Cratomorphus distinctus fireflies) and the pH-insensitive luciferases (Pyrearinus termitilluminans, Phrixotrix viviani and Phrixotrix hirtus) cloned by our group, here we show that substitutions dramatically affecting bioluminescence colors in both groups of luciferases are clustered in the loop between residues 223-235 (Photinus pyralis sequence). The substitutions at positions 227, 228 and 229 (P. pyralis sequence) cause dramatic redshift and temporal shift in both groups of luciferases, indicating their involvement in labile interactions. Modeling studies showed that the residues Y227 and N229 are buried in the protein core, fixing the loop to other structural elements participating at the bottom of the luciferin binding site. Changes in pH and temperature (in firefly luciferases), as well as point mutations in this loop, may disrupt the interactions of these structural elements exposing the active site and modulating bioluminescence colors. © 2007 The Authors.

Neyraiella distinctus n. sp. (Oxyurida, Blattophilidae) Parasite of Nymphs of Gryllodes laplatae Sauss (Orthoptera, Gryllidae) in Argentina

Neyraiella distinctus n. sp. was found parasitizing nymphs of the cricket Gryllodes laplatae Sauss in City Bell, Argentina. This species was characterized by having the excretory pore in the posterior end of the basal bulb, vulva protruding with one lip well developed in the 1/3 end of the body, anus of the female with wings, male with a single spicule without any sculpture, gubernaculum and bursa are absent, six pairs of genital papillae arranged in two preanal pairs, one adanal pair and three postanal pairs, and the tail appendage in both sexes was short and conic.

Sancti Gregorij Magni ... Liber moraliu[m] in beatu[m] Iob : singulari sagacitate consummataq[ue] opera per capitula distinctus ... : in cuius calce sententiaru[m] Sacre Scripture ... index ... / que omnia visit, castigauit ... frater Ioannes Lagrenus ...

Pie de imp. tomado del colofón en 3s3v

Hortus caelestium deliciarum ex omnigena defloratione sanctorum patrum, moralium philosophorum et scriptorum spiritualium summa cura compositus; et in plures centurias apophthegmatum, exemplorum et sententiarum, quasi in totidem florum areolas, distinctus a d. Ioanne Bona

"Elenco delle opere citate nell' 'Hortus' con cenni biografici dei loro opere": p.[lxxix]-cvii.

De magistratuum edictis : tractatus quatuor libris distinctus ... /

Mode of access: Internet.

D. Antonii Ayerue de Ayora... Tractatus de partitionibus bonorum communium inter conjuges, parentes et liberos eorumque haeredes in quator partes distinctus recognitus & locupletatus : in quarum singulis etiam permulta de fructibus haereditatum... traduntur...

Portada a dos tintas.

Nicolai de Passeribus ... Tractatus duo, quorum primus De scriptura privata in libros sex, alter vero De verbis enunciativis in libros tres distinctus

Mode of access: Internet.

Joannis Zuffi ... Tractatus de criminalis processus legitimatione : in libros tres distinctus quibus omnia ad hanc materiam spectantia explanantur ... : cum annotationibus ad Barbarinam constitutionem et indicibus copiosis. Accessit recentissimarum S. Rotae Romanae decisionum centuria.

Mode of access: Internet.

Liber receptarum in theologia sententiarum et conclusionum : cum breuibus necessariisque fundamentis in quinque sectiones distinctus de statu innocentiae [et] ei adiunctis peccato originis, libero arbitrie [et] gratia iustificatione ac merito [et] conditione animarum pest hanc vitam /

CCBE S. XVI

Catechismus ex decreto sacrosancti Concilii Tridentini, Iussu Pij V Pont. Max. editus : Nunc primum in capita, sectionesque distinctus, varijisque [sic] Patrum sententijs, et auctoritatibus munitus : accessere duo indices ...

CCBE. S. XVI, C, 1248 y 1249.

De casibus reseruatis tractatus : in duas partes distinctus /

Adams,

Ascensus Moysis in montem, seu De oratione tractatus : tribus stationibus ac viis purgativa, illuminativa, unitiva distinctus /

Mode of access: Internet.

D. Antonii Ayerue de Ayora ... Tractatus de partitionibus bonorum communium inter conjuges, parentes, et liberos, eorumque haeredes : in quatuor partes distinctus, recognitus & locupletatus ...

Mode of access: Internet.

Roderici à Castro ... Medicus-politicus, siue De officis medico-politicis tractatus, quatuor distinctus libris ... : Opus admodum utile medicis, aegrotis, aegrotorum assistentibus, & cunctis aliis litterarum, atque adeo politicae disciplinae cultoribus : Cum duplici indice ...

Mode of access: Internet.