Molecular taxonomy of Brazilian bioluminescent fungi and bioluminescence of the millipede Motyxia sequoia

Abstract

Due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic situation, several bioluminescent fungi collected at Atlantic Rainforest (Brazil) by our group over the last three years remain waiting taxonomic classification. Besides morphological analysis, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of combined barcodes are crucial for fungal systematics and evolution studies. Thus, the first aim of this postdoctoral project at Dr. Brian Perry's lab (Cal State, East Bay, CA, USA) is to provide the DNA sequence data of molecular markers commonly used for fungal taxonomy and which, in parallel with morphological description of the specimens performed with the expertise of Dr. Perry, will allow us to speed up the taxonomic classification and contribute with the phylogeny of bioluminescent fungi. In addition, the current FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellowship (Bioluminescence of Fungi, Millipede and Marine Organisms: Chemical and Biological Aspects, grant 2019/12605-0) includes the study of the bioluminescence of the Californian millipede Motyxia sequoia. Although its light emission seems to depend on photoproteins which require ATP, the substrate (luciferin), the enzyme (luciferase) and the light-emitting mechanism of this system have not yet been elucidated. Thus, Dr. Perry will also help us to collect the millipedes in California to begin the studies involving the development of an in vitro assay to follow the purification of its luciferin and the elucidation of its luciferase and light emission mechanism of this new bioluminescent system. (AU)