Public Health Relevance

Research Narrative: This project will provide a powerful new tool for molecular, cellular, and diagnostic imaging by allowing researchers to light up whatever cells they are interested in. Adding a bit of DNA to a cell will give it the ability to make its own luminescence. The possible applications are nearly limitless, but include making tumors reveal themselves by glowing, detecting contamination by causing pathogens to emit light, and following the time course of gene expression in organisms.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM087198-03
Application #
8088214
Study Section
Microscopic Imaging Study Section (MI)
Program Officer
Deatherage, James F
Project Start
2009-06-01
Project End
2013-05-31
Budget Start
2011-06-01
Budget End
2012-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$431,005
Indirect Cost
Name
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
178341772
City
Moss Landing
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95039
Francis, Warren R; Christianson, Lynne M; Powers, Meghan L et al. (2016) Non-excitable fluorescent protein orthologs found in ctenophores. BMC Evol Biol 16:167
Francis, Warren R; Shaner, Nathan C; Christianson, Lynne M et al. (2015) Occurrence of Isopenicillin-N-Synthase Homologs in Bioluminescent Ctenophores and Implications for Coelenterazine Biosynthesis. PLoS One 10:e0128742
Francis, Warren R; Powers, Meghan L; Haddock, Steven H D (2014) Characterization of an anthraquinone fluor from the bioluminescent, pelagic polychaete Tomopteris. Luminescence 29:1135-40
Powers, Meghan L; McDermott, Amy G; Shaner, Nathan C et al. (2013) Expression and characterization of the calcium-activated photoprotein from the ctenophore Bathocyroe fosteri: insights into light-sensitive photoproteins. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 431:360-6
Schnitzler, Christine E; Pang, Kevin; Powers, Meghan L et al. (2012) Genomic organization, evolution, and expression of photoprotein and opsin genes in Mnemiopsis leidyi: a new view of ctenophore photocytes. BMC Biol 10:107
Thuesen, Erik V; Goetz, Freya E; Haddock, Steven H D (2010) Bioluminescent organs of two deep-sea arrow worms, Eukrohnia fowleri and Caecosagitta macrocephala, with further observations on Bioluminescence in chaetognaths. Biol Bull 219:100-11
Chudakov, Dmitriy M; Matz, Mikhail V; Lukyanov, Sergey et al. (2010) Fluorescent proteins and their applications in imaging living cells and tissues. Physiol Rev 90:1103-63