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BIOLUMINESCENCE

BIOLUMINESCENCE. The Chemistry of Light. Bioluminescence is . a direct and efficient conversion of energy derived from a chemical reaction in the organism into light energy, giving off no heat in the process (sometimes referred to as “cold light”).

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BIOLUMINESCENCE

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  1. BIOLUMINESCENCE The Chemistry of Light

  2. Bioluminescence is a direct and efficient conversion of energy derived from a chemical reaction in the organism into light energy, giving off no heat in the process (sometimes referred to as “cold light”)

  3. The Chemistry of BioluminescenceCHEMILUMINESCENCE • At least two chemicals are required: • Luciferin • Luciferase

  4. Luciferin • Basic substrate of any bioluminescent reaction • Chemical that produces the light • Must be brought into the system, either through diet or by internal synthesis

  5. Major Examples of Marine Luciferins • Bacterial luciferin • Dinoflagellate luciferin • Vargulin • Coelenterazine • Firefly luciferin

  6. A reduced riboflavin phosphate which is oxidized in association with a long-chain aldehyde, oxygen, and a luciferase Found in bacteria, some fish, and some squid Baterial Luciferin

  7. Possibly derived from chlorophyll (has similar structure) At pH 8, “protected” from the luciferase by a luciferin-binding protein At pH 6, the free luciferin reacts & light is produced Dinoflagellate Luciferin

  8. Found in ostracod (“seed shrimp”) Demonstrates a dietary link – fish lose their ability to luminesce until they are fed with luciferin-bearing food Vargulin

  9. Most popular marine luciferin Famous for being the light emitter of the photoprotein “aequorin” Coelenterazine

  10. Requires ATP as a cofactor Can be used as a bio-indicator of the presence of energy for “life” Firefly Luciferin

  11. Luciferase • Drives or catalyzes the reaction • Catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin • Must be brought into the system, either through diet or by internal synthesis

  12. Basic Reaction • Luciferase catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin • Adenisine triphosphate (ATP) provides energy to produce luciferin • Resulting in light and an inactive “oxyluciferin” • An animation of the reaction can be observed at the following website http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/chem/index.html

  13. Basic Reaction (con’t.) • Sometimes, the luciferin and catalyzing protein (luciferase), and a co-factor such as oxygen, are bound together • The single unit is known as a “photoprotein” • The molecule is triggered to produce light when a particular type of ion is added to the system (ex. calcium)

  14. Sources • http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/blueplanet/infobursts/bioluminescence_bg.shtml • http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/chem/ • http://www.bookrags.com/research/bioluminescence-woc/ • http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/anphys/1999/Cody/howworks.html

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