Abstract
Abstract. The larval click‐beetle Pyrearinus termitilluminans elicits the phenomenon of luminous termite mounds in the central‐west region of Brazil. The bioluminescence (BL) spectrum of this larva (Λmax= 534 run) is one of the most blue‐shifted reported among known luminescent Cole‐optera. We have isolated mRNA from larval thoracic lanterns and constructed a cDNA library into a δZAP II vector. An expression library was obtained after excision of the pBluescript plasmid. This library was screened by photodetection and one clone that emitted green BL (Δmax= 538 nm) was isolated. The 2.2 kb cDNA insert includes a 543 residue open reading frame showing 82% homology with the luciferase isoenzymes of Pyrophorus pla‐giophthalamus (Coleoptera: Elateridae). As expected, the region between residues 223 and 247 that contains the putative active site for BL color determination showed a higher degree of homology among click‐beetle luciferases that elicit closer BL colors. The in vitro BL spectrum of recombinant P. termitilluminans luciferase also peaks at 538 nm and, as in the case of native enzyme, does not show any bathochromic shift upon decreasing the pH.
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