Bioluminescence is the production of visible light by living organisms. It occurs through the oxidation of luciferin substrates catalysed by luciferase enzymes. Auxiliary proteins, such as fluorescent proteins and luciferin-binding proteins, can modify the light emitted wavelength or stabilize reactive luciferin molecules, respectively. Additionally, calcium ions are crucial for the luminescence across various species. Despite the large phylogenetic distribution of bioluminescent organisms, only a few systems have been comprehensively studied. Notably, cnidarian species of the Renilla genus utilize a coelenterazine-dependent luciferase, a calcium-dependent coelenterazine-binding protein and a green fluorescent protein. We investigated the bioluminescence of three sea pen species: Pennatula phosphorea, Anthoptilum murrayi and Funiculina quadrangularis (Pennatuloidea, Anthozoa). Their light-emission spectra reveal peaks at 510, 513 and 485 nm, respectively. A coelenterazine-based reaction was demonstrated in all three species. Using transcriptome analyses, we identified transcripts coding for luciferases, green fluorescent proteins and coelenterazine-binding proteins for P. phosphorea and A. murrayi. Immunodetection confirmed the expression of luciferase in P. phosphorea and F. quadrangularis. We also expressed recombinant luciferase of A. murrayi, confirming its activity. We highlighted the role of calcium ions in bioluminescence, possibly associated with the mechanism of substrate release at the level of coelenterazine-binding proteins. The study proposes a model for anthozoan bioluminescence, offering new avenues for future ecological and functional research on these luminous organisms.

• Klíčová slova
• Anthoptilidae, Funiculidae, Pennatulidae, bioluminescence, coelenterazine, luciferase, luciferin-binding protein, luminous system,
• MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• imidazoly metabolismus   MeSH
• korálnatci * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• luciferasy metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• luminescentní proteiny metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• luminiscence MeSH
• luminiscenční měření metody   MeSH
• pyraziny metabolismus   MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese * MeSH
• transkriptom * MeSH
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• coelenterazine MeSH Prohlížeč
• imidazoly MeSH
• luciferasy MeSH
• luminescentní proteiny MeSH
• pyraziny MeSH
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny MeSH