title: Firefly luciferin as a multifunctional chemiluminescence molecule.
abstract: The chemiluminescence properties of firefly luciferin were studied, in a variety of chemical systems different from those in which it is usually studied. It was found that luciferin is a multifunctional chemiluminescence molecule, as it can behave as a chemiluminescence sensitizer, an emitter and a substrate. The first two roles are here reported for the first time, while we have found a novel way of obtaining excited state oxyluciferin from luciferin. Evidence was also found that does not support the newly proposed radical-mechanism of the formation of firefly dioxetanone. With this study we hope to open the way for novel chemiluminescence applications for firefly luciferin.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigação em Química (CIQ-UP), Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinto da Silva
authors.forename: Joaquim C G
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Esteves da Silva
mesh_terms: D049454:Firefly Luciferin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006573:Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring / Q000737:chemistry; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006573:Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; D007211:Indoles; D049408:Luminescent Agents; D011719:Pyrazines; C541697:dioxetanone; C014730:oxyluciferin; D049454:Firefly Luciferin