Brazilian scientists discover cold-adapted bioluminescent enzyme

Researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) have identified a new luciferase enzyme, named AnmLuc, capable of generating light in extreme cold. The enzyme was isolated from the deep-sea cnidarian Anthoptilum murrayi, collected during a 2019 expedition by the oceanographic vessel Alpha Crucis.

The biological material was gathered from the continental slope between the coastal regions of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, an area characterized by a steep underwater descent that allows access to deep-ocean species. The study, published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, details how the enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin to produce light.

Led by researcher Gabriela Amancio Galeazzo and supervised by Anderson Garbuglio de Oliveira, the project involved collaborations with Unesp, Unifesp, and UFABC under the Deep Ocean project. The discovery of this cold-adapted enzyme offers significant potential for biotechnological applications, including the development of new biosensors and molecular systems to monitor cellular processes and disease progression.