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INDUCTION OF BIOLUMINESCENCE IN THE MARINE FISH, Porichthys , BY Vargula (CRUSTACEAN) LUCIFERIN. EVIDENCE FOR de novo SYNTHESIS OR RECYCLING OF LUCIFERIN
Author(s) -
Thompson Eric M.,
Nafpaktitis Basil G.,
Tsuji Frederick I.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1987.tb05413.x
Subject(s) - luciferin , bioluminescence , crustacean , population , biology , luciferase , light emission , yield (engineering) , ecology , biochemistry , materials science , medicine , optoelectronics , metallurgy , transfection , environmental health , gene
Abstract— The marine fish, Porichthys notatus , emits light by a classical luciferin‐luciferase reaction whose components are similar, if not identical, to those found in the luminescent crustacean, Vargula. Porichthys is divided geographically into a southern luminescent and a northern nonluminescent population. Specimens of nonluminescent Porichthys can be induced to become luminescent by injection or ingestion of Vargula luciferin. After feeding a known quantity of Vargula luciferin, light emitted by Porichthys was monitored for a 2‐yr period. Summation of light produced during each bioluminescence episode demonstrated that the total quanta emitted over 2 yr exceeded the theoretical yield from the administered luciferin. These results indicate that the administered luciferin either recycles or induces de novo synthesis of additional luciferin in Porichthys .