How Bioluminescence Works

In general, bioluminescence involves the combination of two types of substances in alight-producing reaction. One is aluciferin, or a light-producing substance. The other is aluciferase, or an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction. In some cases, the luciferin is a protein known as aphotoprotein,and the light-making process requires a chargedionto activate the reaction. Neurological, mechanical, chemical or as-yet-undiscovered triggers can start the reactions that create light.

Often, the process requires the presence of other substances, like oxygen oradenosine triphosphate (ATP).ATP is a molecule that stores and transports energy in most living organisms, including the human body. The luciferin-luciferase reaction can also create byproducts like oxyluciferin and water.

The terms luciferin and luciferase both come from a Latin termlucifer,这意味着“光明使者”。他们是通用的terms rather than the names of particular chemicals. Lots of different substances can act like luciferins and luciferases, depending on the species of the bioluminescent life form. For example, the luciferincoelenterazineis common in marine bioluminescence. Dinoflagellates that obtain food throughphotosynthesisuse a luciferin that resembles chl. Their luminescence is brighter after verysunnydays. Some shrimp and fish appear to manufacture their luciferin from the food they eat.

Not all animals produce their own light. Read on to learn about animals that rely on other life forms for their luminescence and about how living light can be helpful to humans.