Team:Cambridge/Bioluminescence/Firefly Modelling

We set out to build a mathematical model of our firefly system, featuring the activity of luciferase and luciferin regenerating enzyme.

We modelled the Luciferin cycle as described by [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18949818 Marques 2009] and others. We were assisted by data from [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19859663 S. Inouye (2010)] on the catlysis of light emission by luciferase and information [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20655239 J.M Leitão et al. (2010)] on the inhibition of the enzyme.

We used the [http://www.mathworks.com/products/simbiology/ Matlab Simbiology toolbox] to model the cycle. A diagram of the model we developed can be found below:

Some parameters were taken from literature. However there was no clear data for others, such that we were only able to define some parameters in the light of experimental data.

While attempting to optimise our system we modelled the effect of Luciferin Regenerating Enzyme (LRE).

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Our model suggested that the LRE would make light output increase faster, peak higher and decay more slowly. These were all qualities which suited us.