Multiple Origins of Bioluminescence in Beetles and Evolution of Luciferase Function

Bioluminescence in beetles has long fascinated biologists, with diverse applications in biotechnology. To date, however, our understanding of its evolutionary origin and functional variation mechanisms remains poor. To address these questions, we obtained high-quality reference genomes of luminous and nonluminous beetles in 6 Elateroidea families. We then reconstructed a robust phylogenetic relationship for all luminous families and related nonluminous families. Comparative genomic analyses and biochemical functional experiments suggested that gene evolution within Elateroidea played a crucial role in the origin of bioluminescence, with multiple parallel origins observed in the luminous beetle families. While most luciferase-like proteins exhibited a conserved nonluminous amino acid pattern (TLA346 to 348) in the luciferin-binding sites, luciferases in the different luminous beetle families showed divergent luminous patterns at these sites (TSA/CCA/CSA/LVA). Comparisons of the structural and enzymatic properties of ancestral, extant, and site-directed mutant luciferases further reinforced the important role of these sites in the trade-off between acyl-CoA synthetase and luciferase activities. Furthermore, the evolution of bioluminescent color demonstrated a tendency toward hypsochromic shifts and variations among the luminous families. Taken together, our results revealed multiple parallel origins of bioluminescence and functional divergence within the beetle bioluminescent system.