The discovery of aequorin is a fascinating one (Shimomura. 2004.2005).
This jellyfish is capable of producing flashes of blue light by a quick release of calcium(Ca2+) which interacts with the photoprotein aequorin. The blue light produced is in turn transduced to green by the now famous green fluorescent protein (GFP). Both aequorin and GFP are important tools used in biological research.
Osamu Shimomura. (Figure 3.6) who, as a teenager, had narrowly escaped the atomic bomb when dropped on Japan at the end of World War II, was working with Frank Johnson at Friday Harbor, trying to find out how the jellyfish Aequoreu produced its light. Extracts did not seem to conform to the conventional oxygen-requiring luciferin - luciferase reaction. Frustrated arter an unsuccessful day. he threw the extracts he had prepared into the sink. Eureka — to his surprise there was a flash of blue light. beeause there was a residue of sea water there. Soon he showed it was Ca2+ in the sea water that causes the protein to flash. Na+ and Mg2+ produced no light, though other cations such as Sr2+ and La3+ can provoke aequorin and obelin to produce light.
This jellyfish is capable of producing flashes of blue light by a quick release of calcium(Ca2+) which interacts with the photoprotein aequorin. The blue light produced is in turn transduced to green by the now famous green fluorescent protein (GFP). Both aequorin and GFP are important tools used in biological research.
Osamu Shimomura. (Figure 3.6) who, as a teenager, had narrowly escaped the atomic bomb when dropped on Japan at the end of World War II, was working with Frank Johnson at Friday Harbor, trying to find out how the jellyfish Aequoreu produced its light. Extracts did not seem to conform to the conventional oxygen-requiring luciferin - luciferase reaction. Frustrated arter an unsuccessful day. he threw the extracts he had prepared into the sink. Eureka — to his surprise there was a flash of blue light. beeause there was a residue of sea water there. Soon he showed it was Ca2+ in the sea water that causes the protein to flash. Na+ and Mg2+ produced no light, though other cations such as Sr2+ and La3+ can provoke aequorin and obelin to produce light.
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