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In some animals, the light is bacteriogenic, produced by symbiotic bacteria such as those from the genus Vibrio; [2] in others, it is autogenic, produced by the animals themselves. In most cases, the principal chemical reaction in bioluminescence involves the reaction of a substrate called luciferin and an enzyme , called luciferase .
They are non-thermal in origin, and the emission of biophotons is technically a type of bioluminescence, though the term "bioluminescence" is generally reserved for higher luminance systems (typically with emitted light visible to the naked eye, using biochemical means such as luciferin/luciferase).
Bioluminescent bacteria are most abundant in marine environments during spring blooms when there are high nutrient concentrations. These light-emitting organisms are found mainly in coastal waters near the outflow of rivers, such as the northern Adriatic Sea, Gulf of Trieste, northwestern part of the Caspian Sea, coast of Africa and many more. [25]
Luciferase is a generic term for the class of oxidative enzymes that produce bioluminescence, and is usually distinguished from a photoprotein.The name was first used by Raphaël Dubois who invented the words luciferin and luciferase, for the substrate and enzyme, respectively. [1]
Fireflies are characterized by a phenomenon called bioluminescence, meaning they produce. ... get their name from the glowing spots along their body. They look like train car windows illuminated ...
The elongate jewel squid (Histioteuthis reversa), so called because the photophores festooning its body make it appear bejewelled. Diagram of a cephalopod's photophore, in vertical section. A photophore is a glandular organ that appears as luminous spots on marine animals, including fish and cephalopods. The organ can be simple, or as complex ...
A photocyte is a cell that specializes in catalyzing enzymes to produce light (bioluminescence). [1] Photocytes typically occur in select layers of epithelial tissue, functioning singly or in a group, or as part of a larger apparatus (a photophore). They contain special structures called photocyte granules.
Use of Bioluminescence to Attract Prey Like many creatures living in the midnight zone, the sea anemone produces its own light. This is in the form of a bioluminescent mucus that it emits.