Identification of luciferase cDNA of Neonothopanus sp. (Agaricales: Omphalotaceae)

Abstract

Some fungi are capable of bioluminescence. One of the intriguing bioluminescent mushrooms is Neonothopanus. This mushroom has large fruity body and can produce light throughout their entire body. Light is produced by the reaction of luciferase enzyme to its substrate, luciferin. The information of Neonothopanus luciferase gene is still limited. The aim of this study is to characterize Neonothopanus sp. luciferase cDNA. Samples were collected in Pesisir Selatan West Sumatera. Total RNA and LuzF and LuzR primers were used to amplify 830 bp Neonothopanus sp luciferase cDNA. It was found that the query cover of the luciferase cDNA of Neonothopanus sp. to N. nambi is 93%, and 37% for N. gardnery. Neonothopanus sp and N. nambi have different nucleotides at position 320 – 369, while Neonothopanus sp and N. gardnery just have similar nucleotides at position 9 - 322 pb. Phylogenetic analysis shows bootstrap value of Neonothopanus sp cDNA sequences and Neonothopanus nambi 100% and 99.5% with N. gardneri. This suggests that Neonothopanus sp. luciferase cDNA is closely related to Neonothopanus nambi and N. gardneri.