Meeting Abstract
Bioluminescence evolved many times across Metazoa. Culturing luminescent organisms from diverse metazoan groups is critical for determining the biosynthetic pathways of diverse bioluminescent substrates, which may lead to new tools for biotechnology and biomedicine. Although some previously cultured luminescent groups represent independent origins of bioluminescence, many use luminescent substrates (luciferins) obtained from their diets, and therefore are not informative for determination of the luciferin biosynthetic pathway. Terrestrial fireflies do synthesize their own luciferin, but the biosynthetic pathway for firefly luciferin remains unclear. An additional independent origin of autogenic bioluminescence is found within ostracods from the family Cypridinidae, which use their luminescence for defense and, in Caribbean species, for courtship displays. Here, we report the first complete life cycle of a luminous ostracod (Vargula tsujii, the California Sea Firefly) in the laboratory and discuss the embryonic and juvenile development of Vargula tsujii. We also find no evidence of significant population genetic structure or cryptic speciation throughout the southern California range of V. tsujii. Bringing a luminous ostracod into laboratory culture sets the stage for many potential avenues of study, including the biosynthetic pathway of cypridinid luciferin and genomic manipulation of an autogenic bioluminescent system.
