The fungal bioluminescence pathway (FBP) is a metabolic pathway responsible for the generation of bioluminescence derived from fungi. This pathway utilizes caffeic acid as the substrate, generating a high-energy intermediate, and the decomposition of which yields green fluorescence with a wavelength of approximately 520 nm. The FBP is evolutionally conserved in luminescent fungal groups. Unlike other bioluminescent systems, the FBP is particularly suitable for engineering applications in eukaryotic organisms, especially in plants. Currently, metabolically engineered luminescent plants are able to emit visible light to illuminate its surroundings, which can be visualized clearly in the dark. The fungal bioluminescent system could be explored in various applications in molecular biology, biosensors and glowing ornamental plants, and even green lighting along city streets.
Luminescence ; Light ; Fluorescence ; Eukaryota ; Green Light

The natural course of visual acuity of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) membrane is known to be poor.When fovea is involved, only a subset of patients is eligible for laser photocoagulation or alternative treatment odalities.Radiation therapy has been investigated for applying to such cases, however there have been controversies among reports on the effec-tiveness of radiation therapy.Hence we intended to evaluate the effective-ness of radiation therapy quantitatively.Twenty-one eyes with subfoveal CNV were treated with 4 MV X-ray (total dose of 20 Gy).After the follow-up period of 6months or longer, the visual acuity remained stable or improved from the initial visual acuity in 15 of 21 eyes (71.4%). Based on indocyanine green (ICG)video angiography, the CNVs decreased in their size in 16 of 21 eyes (76.2%)and this difference was statistically significant. These results suggest that radiation can induce regression of subfoveal CNV and maintain central vision in a significant number of patients and we believe that larger, longer study is necessary.
Angiography ; Choroid* ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Light Coagulation ; Membranes ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To determine experimentally the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with indocyanine green (ICG) dye in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization. METHODS: Following the creation of choroidal neovascularization in the retina of 18 pigmented rats (36 eyes), and ICG dye injection (10 mg/kg) in 18 of the eyes, the authors performed PDT, at intensity of 60 mW, spot size of 2.0 mm, and duration of 20 seconds within 2 minutes after ICG dye injection. 0ne, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after PDT, the authors examined the retina for any signs of regression through angiogram and light microscope. RESULTS: When authors conducted PDT after injecting ICG dye into pigmented rats, there was no significant damage to retina when the intensity was set at 60mW with duration of 10 or 20 seconds. Choroidal neovascularization was found in 18 eyes after argon laser photocoagulation, and regression of neovascularization was confirmed through angiogram and pathologic examination after PDT was performed with ICG dye. Pathologic views revealed significant fibrosis and fibrinoid necrosis. The control group consisting of 18 eyes in which no diode laser photocoagulation was performed, showed no regression of choroidal neovascularization. CONCLUSIONS: PDT with ICG dye was found to be quite effective in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization.
Animals ; Argon ; Choroid* ; Choroidal Neovascularization* ; Fibrosis ; Indocyanine Green* ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Light Coagulation ; Necrosis ; Photochemotherapy* ; Rats ; Retina

Diode laser photocoagulation was performed in the pigmented rabbits, after intravenous administration of the Indocyanine green(4mg/kg). Exposure time and spot size were fixed at 0.2 second and 200um, and laser power varied in the range of 200-250mW to achieve gray-white burn. Ophthalmoscopic examination 1 hour later revealed that whitish photocoagulated lesion appeared somewhat larger in the ICG- administrated group than in the control. Depigmented border of the lesion appeared more distinct in the ICG- administrated group than in the control at 1 week later. There was no distinct difference between both groups at 1 month later. Histopathologically, degree of retinal damage was similar in both groups, but occlusion of choriocapillaris was more severe in the ICG- administrated group than in the control.
Administration, Intravenous ; Burns ; Indocyanine Green* ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Light Coagulation* ; Rabbits ; Retinaldehyde

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between retinal dot hemorrhage that occurred during membrane peeling (MP) and the damage to the internal limiting membrane (ILM) at idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM). METHODS: The authors of the present study retrospectively reviewed 50 eyes of 50 consecutive patients who underwent vitrectomy with MP for idiopathic ERM. For all the patients, the ILM was stained with indocyanine green following MP. ILM damage was evaluated using microscopy during the operation. Tissue was examined by light and electron microscopy. Whether or not retinal hemorrhage occurred during the MP and the location of the hemorrhage were also investigated. RESULTS: During the MP for idiopathic ERM, ILM damage was observed in 43 (86%) of 50 eyes, and some defects of the ILM due to simultaneous removal with the ERM were observed in 37 (74%) of 50 eyes. Retinal dot hemorrhage occurred during the MP in 32 eyes (64%) and did not occur in 18 eyes (36%). In 32 eyes with retinal hemorrhage, ILM damage was observed in 30 eyes (94%). Large or small defects of the ILM due to simultaneous removal with the ERM were observed in 27 of 30 eyes, and ILM tear was observed in 3 eyes. The hemorrhage occurred in 2 eyes without gross ILM damage during the MP. Among 18 eyes without retinal hemorrhage, large or small defects of the ILM due to simultaneous removal with the ERM were observed in 10 eyes (56%). ILM tear was observed in 2 eyes, ILM detachment was observed in 1 eye, while ILM remained intact in 5 eyes (28%). The number of eyes where both ERM and ILM were peeled simultaneously was significantly higher in the cases with retinal hemorrhage (p = 0.047). Cases of hemorrhage in Gass grade 2 were statistically higher than that in Gass grade 1 (p = 0.015). OCT type of ERM did not have significant correlation with retinal hemorrhage or ILM damage during the MP. CONCLUSIONS: During the MP for idiopathic ERM, ILM damage was observed in 86% of patients, and some defects of the ILM due to simultaneous removal with ERM were observed in 74% of patients. It is highly suggestive that ILM is damaged at the hemorrhage site if retinal dot hemorrhage occurred during the MP for idiopathic ERM.
Epiretinal Membrane ; Eye ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Light ; Membranes ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To report a case of central serous chorioretinopathy with peripapillary retinoschisis. CASE SUMMARY: A 64-year-old male presented with abnormal color vision of the left eye, which occurred 6 months prior to his visit. At the initial visit, a funduscopic examination revealed retinal elevation with suspected serous retinal detachment around the optic disc in the left eye. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography showed subretinal fluid on the nasal side of the optic disc and retinoschisis on the temporal side of the optic disc in the left eye. Fluorescein angiography revealed multiple leakages in the left eye. Indocyanine green angiography revealed choroidal vascular hyperpermeability in both eyes. Based on these results, the patient was diagnosed with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy and was treated with argon laser photocoagulation at the leakage points. After 8 weeks of laser therapy, optical coherence tomography indicated that there was no retinoschisis or subretinal fluid in the macula, nasal, or temporal sides of the optic disc. CONCLUSIONS: Peripapillary retinoschisis due to central serous chorioretinopathy improves with argon laser photocoagulation at leakage sites.
Angiography ; Argon ; Central Serous Chorioretinopathy ; Choroid ; Color Vision ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Laser Therapy ; Light Coagulation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinaldehyde ; Retinoschisis ; Subretinal Fluid ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

Genetically encoded Ca(2+) indicators (GECI) are important for the measurement of Ca(2+) in vivo. GCaMP2, a widely-used GECI, has recently been iteratively improved. Among the improved variants, GCaMP3 exhibits significantly better fluorescent intensity. In this study, we developed a new GECI called GCaMPJ and determined the crystal structures of GCaMP3 and GCaMPJ. GCaMPJ has a 1.5-fold increase in fluorescence and 1.3-fold increase in calcium affinity over GCaMP3. Upon Ca(2+) binding, GCaMP3 exhibits both monomeric and dimeric forms. The structural superposition of these two forms reveals the role of Arg-376 in improving monomer performance. However, GCaMPJ seldom forms dimers under conditions similar to GCaMP3. St ructural and mutagenesis studies on Tyr-380 confirmed its importance in blocking the cpEGFP β-barrel holes. Our study proposes an efficient tool for mapping Ca(2+) signals in intact organs to facilitate the further improvement of GCaMP sensors.
Calcium ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Calmodulin ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Dimerization ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Histidine ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics