Optical, Biochemical, and Molecular Characterization of New Bioluminescence Systems

Abstract

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Department of Defense, Executive Services and Communications Directorate 10704-0188). Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid 0MB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ORGANIZATION. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY)12. REPORT PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY REPORT NUMBER9500 GILMAN DRIVE LA JOLLA, CA 92093-0202 SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S)AFOSR AFRL-SR-AR-TR-07_0151 SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES ABSTRACTOverall this project has been successful having reached most of the goals originally proposed for the funding period. Screening of light producing organisms (Research Area 1) has been completed in diverse environments, including the Caribbean that was added on a later date. The screening has led to describing the general change with geographical latitude of pigmentation, chemiluminescence and fluorescence in organisms. This has led to documentation of organisms producing light of different color, which could stimulate future research of specific interest for the AFOSR. Also, as a result from this screening, a new Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and also been identified from the higher invertebrate (Protochordate) Amphioxus, the most developed invertebrate closest to vertebrate. The discovery of this new GFP (named amphiGFP) raised questions on extent of occurrence of this protein in the Animal Kingdom, considering that GFP had so far been described only from lower invertebrates like jellyfish, corals and some crustaceans. Deheyn -FA9550-04-1-0164 Final Report SUBJECT TERMS SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OBJECTIVESThis project developed into two areas of research that had complementary main objectives, and each multiple intermediate objectives:Main objective for Area 1 Screening marine and terrestrial organisms able to produce light by process of bioluminescence, chemiluminescence and/or fluorescence. This area assessed various environments in order to increase diversity of analyzed organisms.Intermediate objectives:l a: to collect a wide diversity of organisms in various environments lb: to perform visual screening of fluorescence capacity directly from live organisms lc: to trigger bio-/chemi-luminescence of organisms in the laboratory ld: to measure optical properties of bioluminescence and/or fluorescence le: to provide a listing of species with their light production ...