Bacterial bioluminescence

Bacterial bioluminescence is visible light produced by bacterial biochemical reactions, typically through a luciferase enzyme and reduced flavin substrate.

Bacterial luciferase: An enzyme complex that oxidizes a long-chain aldehyde and reduced flavin, releasing blue-green light. It catalyzes the characteristic light-producing reaction in luminous bacteria.
Aliivibrio fischeri: A marine luminous bacterium best known for its symbiosis with the Hawaiian bobtail squid. It is a canonical example of bacterial light controlled by quorum sensing.
Bioluminescence: Light produced by living organisms through chemical reactions. Bacterial bioluminescence is one microbial form of this wider biological phenomenon.
Firefly bioluminescence: Light production in fireflies through luciferase-catalyzed oxidation of luciferin, usually in specialized light organs. Fireflies use a different luciferase system and substrate than luminous bacteria.
Lux operon: A bacterial gene cluster encoding proteins for light production and, in some species, aldehyde synthesis. Its genes coordinate the enzyme and substrate supply needed for bacterial light.
Hawaiian bobtail squid: A small nocturnal squid that houses luminous bacteria in a specialized light organ. Its symbiosis with Aliivibrio fischeri uses bacterial light for counterillumination.
Luciferase: An enzyme that catalyzes a light-producing reaction in a bioluminescent system. Bacterial luciferase belongs to the broader family of enzymes associated with biological light.
Dinoflagellate bioluminescence: Light production by certain marine dinoflagellates, often triggered by mechanical disturbance. Dinoflagellates are independent marine light producers with different cellular machinery.
FMNH₂: The reduced form of flavin mononucleotide, a cofactor that donates electrons in biochemical reactions. Luciferase uses FMNH₂ as a reactant when producing light.
Counterillumination: Camouflage in which an animal emits light to reduce its silhouette against illumination from above. Bacterial light helps some marine animals conceal their silhouettes from predators below.

Linked from 6 pages