Open AccessSpontaneous luminescence from soybean Rhizobium bacteroids
Author(s) -
Shen Xun,
Han Xingcai,
Tian Jingdong,
Zhao Fengyu,
Xu Lingmei,
Li Xinyuan
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1991.tb04782.x
Subject(s) - rhizobia , catalase , superoxide dismutase , chemiluminescence , luminescence , rhizobium , singlet oxygen , chemistry , oxygen , photochemistry , biochemistry , biology , bacteria , nitrogen fixation , enzyme , materials science , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , gene , genetics
A remarkable spontaneous photon emission was observed in isolated bacteroids of three strains of soybean rhizobia from different genera, but not for the same rhizobia when cultured in liquid medium. The photon emission is oxygen‐dependent and can be inhibited by desferal or dipyridyl (both good iron‐chelating agents), superoxide dismutase or β‐carotene. It is enhanced by catalase. The emission spectrum indicates that singlet oxygen is partly responsible for the luminescence.