Role of molecular oxygen in the bioluminescence of the firefly squid, Watasenia scintillans.
The bioluminescence system in the "firefly squid," Watasenia scintillans, is described. The light-emitting components consist of luciferin (coelenterazine disulfate), a membrane-bound luciferase, ATP, Mg2+, and molecular oxygen. A hypothetical scheme is proposed for the light-emitting reaction.
Tsuji
Frederick I
FI
Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0202, USA. ftsuji@ucsd.edu
D000818:Animals; D049832:Decapodiformes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D008156:Luciferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D049449:Luminescence; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology
D008156:Luciferases; D010100:Oxygen