What is the lux operon?
Basic Information: The lux operon encodes genes for self-regulation and for the production of luminescent proteins. The most well studied operon is originally isolated from the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, whose operon-produced luciferase produces a yellowish colored bioluminescence of about 490 nm.
What are the components of the lux operon?
In the five previously characterized species of luminous bacteria (Vibrio fischeri, Vibrio harveyi, Photobacterium leiognathi, Photobacterium phosphoreum, and Photorhabdus luminescens), the six structural genes for bioluminescence are contained within a locus termed the lux operon.
Where is the lux operon found?
Hawaiian bobtail squid
The Lux operon in Vibrio fischeri includes two proteins that form an enzyme that catalyze this reaction. These bacteria live in specialized light organs in the Hawaiian bobtail squid and produce light to help the squid camouflage itself in the moonlight.
What is luxAB?
Nonspecific lux bioreporters are typically used for the detection of chemical toxins. They are usually designed to continuously bioluminesce. Upon exposure to a chemical toxin, either the cell dies or its metabolic activity is retarded, leading to a decrease in bioluminescent light levels.
How many genes are in the lux operon?
five genes
In order to be capable of bioluminescence, bacteria require a minimum of five genes arranged in an operon: luxCDABE.
How does activation of the lux operon occur?
The luminescence operon is activated by the LuxR protein, which requires a diffusible acylhomoserine lactone signal. The lux box, a 20 bp inverted repeat, is located in the luxl promoter region and is required for LuxR-dependent induction of the luminescence genes.
What type of operon is the lux operon?
fischeri. The lux regulon consists of two divergently transcribed operons, the rightward operon (luxICDABE genes) and the leftward operon (luxR gene).
What is a reporter in biology?
In molecular biology, a reporter gene (often simply reporter) is a gene that researchers attach to a regulatory sequence of another gene of interest in bacteria, cell culture, animals or plants.
What type of regulation is quorum sensing?
Abstract. Quorum sensing is the regulation of gene expression in response to fluctuations in cell-population density. Quorum sensing bacteria produce and release chemical signal molecules called autoinducers that increase in concentration as a function of cell density.
How do you quantify luciferase?
Cell debris is removed by microcentrifugation and luciferase activity is measured using a luminometer. Some luminometers directly inject the reagents into the cell lysate. Such automation allows the signal to be measured at a precise time following injection, which can increase the consistency of the results.