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The mechanical triggering of bioluminescence in marine dinoflagellates: Chemical basis
Author(s) -
Hamman J. P.,
Seliger H. H.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1040800310
Subject(s) - bioluminescence , photoinhibition , biophysics , biology , stimulation , photosynthesis , ion , botany , chemistry , biochemistry , photosystem ii , neuroscience , organic chemistry
In both photosynthetic ( Pyrodinium bahamense, Gonyaulax polyedra, Pyrocystis Iunula, P. noctiluca, P. fusiformis ) and nonphotosynthetic ( Noctiluca miliaris ) bioluminescent dinoflagellates chemical stimulation can by‐pass mechanical stimulation. The effective ions are Ca ++ , K + , NH 4 + and H + . Other chemicals found effective are those implicated in Ca ++ transport or binding. There are interspecies differences in degrees of mechanical and chemical stimulability. Photoinhibition of mechanical stimulability is the result of two effects, the first a reduction in total bioluminescence potential and the second a decrease in mechanical stimulability resulting experimentally in a decreased rate of light emission. This latter effect can be reversed with Ca ++ ions. Chemicals which bind Ca ++ or displace Ca ++ can mimic the effects of photoinhibition. The chemical inhibition of mechanical stimulability is also reversed by Ca ++ ions. A scheme is proposed which is consistent for all species examined.