
To explain:
The way through which understanding bioluminescent bacteria and the lux operon can help people to understand other bacterial processes.
Introduction:
The bioluminescent bacteria produce light in sea water, marine sediments, and gut of marine organisms and surface of the decomposing fish. Molecular oxygen allows those bacteria to produce light, and this is termed as bacterial bioluminescence, which is supplied from the external cellular environment.
The lux operon is an operon that regulates the production of “luciferase”, the enzyme responsible for the emission of light by bioluminescent bacteria.

Explanation of Solution
The study of bioluminescent bacteria and lux operon can be useful to understand the other bacterial processes. For example, Vibrio fisheri and Vibrio harveyi contain lux operon that can be studied to understand bacterial processes. Vibrio fisheri is a microorganism that can live either alone or symbiotically with the bobtail squid. Vibrio harveyi inhabit on shrimp and other marine organisms.
In such microns, lux operon contains five different genes that cause the regulation of bioluminescence. The proteins that are produced from this operon associate to produce luciferase and bioluminescence by emitting photons of light.
The genes present in lux operon transcribed and translated at certain times, because, they have the required energy for their transcription and translation. “Autoinducer” is a signaling molecule produced by bacteria. As the bacteria achieve to a certain concentration, the autoinducer also achieves a concentration that can be detected by all the bacteria within the immediate area. The higher concentration of autoinducer provides signals to the bacteria to produce luciferase and bioluminescence; this is known as “quorum sensing”. Bacteria are unable to produce light until they have achieved a higher concentration.
The concentration required by bacteria to produce luciferase and bioluminescence is 1012 cells/ml for the production of light.
Quorum sensing is a process occurring in bioluminescent bacteria and the lux operon that can help people to understand other bacterial processes.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 9 Solutions
Microbiology: A Systems Approach
- 22. Which of the following mutant proteins is expected to have a dominant negative effect when over- expressed in normal cells? a. mutant PI3-kinase that lacks the SH2 domain but retains the kinase function b. mutant Grb2 protein that cannot bind to RTK c. mutant RTK that lacks the extracellular domain d. mutant PDK that has the PH domain but lost the kinase function e. all of the abovearrow_forwardWhat is the label ?arrow_forwardCan you described the image? Can you explain the question as well their answer and how to get to an answer to an problem like this?arrow_forward
- Describe the principle of homeostasis.arrow_forwardExplain how the hormones of the glands listed below travel around the body to target organs and tissues : Pituitary gland Hypothalamus Thyroid Parathyroid Adrenal Pineal Pancreas(islets of langerhans) Gonads (testes and ovaries) Placentaarrow_forwardWhat are the functions of the hormones produced in the glands listed below: Pituitary gland Hypothalamus Thyroid Parathyroid Adrenal Pineal Pancreas(islets of langerhans) Gonads (testes and ovaries) Placentaarrow_forward
- Describe the hormones produced in the glands listed below: Pituitary gland Hypothalamus Thyroid Parathyroid Adrenal Pineal Pancreas(islets of langerhans) Gonads (testes and ovaries) Placentaarrow_forwardPlease help me calculate drug dosage from the following information: Patient weight: 35 pounds, so 15.9 kilograms (got this by dividing 35 pounds by 2.2 kilograms) Drug dose: 0.05mg/kg Drug concentration: 2mg/mLarrow_forwardA 25-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a 2-day history of fever, chills, severe headache, and confusion. She recently returned from a trip to sub-Saharan Africa, where she did not take malaria prophylaxis. On examination, she is febrile (39.8°C/103.6°F) and hypotensive. Laboratory studies reveal hemoglobin of 8.0 g/dL, platelet count of 50,000/μL, and evidence of hemoglobinuria. A peripheral blood smear shows ring forms and banana-shaped gametocytes. Which of the following Plasmodium species is most likely responsible for her severe symptoms? A. Plasmodium vivax B. Plasmodium ovale C. Plasmodium malariae D. Plasmodium falciparumarrow_forward
- Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)BiologyISBN:9780134580999Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. HoehnPublisher:PEARSONBiology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStaxAnatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781259398629Author:McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa StouterPublisher:Mcgraw Hill Education,
- Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)BiologyISBN:9780815344322Author:Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter WalterPublisher:W. W. Norton & CompanyLaboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781260159363Author:Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, CynthiaPublisher:McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)BiologyISBN:9781260231700Author:Sylvia S. Mader, Michael WindelspechtPublisher:McGraw Hill Education





