What is Bioluminescence?
Bioluminescence is light produced by a chemical reaction within a living organism. It is a type of chemi-luminescence and it generates very little thermal radiation. Many different species have bioluminescence although most bioluminescent organisms are found in the ocean.
How does Bioluminescence occur?
Bioluminescence is the product of two organic chemicals: Luciferin and Luciferase. In a chemical reaction, Luciferin would be the substrate while Luciferase would be the catalyst. The definitions of substrate and catalyst as well as luciferin and luciferase are shown below.
Substrate: Substance acted upon by an enzyme in a chemical reaction.
Catalyst: Substance that causes or quickens a chemical reaction, without being affected by it.
Luciferin: Organic substances that upon oxidation produce a virtually heatless light (bioluminescence).
Luciferase: Enzyme (catalyst) that reacts with a substrate (luciferin) in a chemical reaction that results in bioluminescence.
To produce light, luciferase (the catalyst) reacts with luciferin (the substrate), to oxidize it. The products of this reaction are oxy-luciferin and visible light. Luciferin is the compound that actually produces light.
Substrate: Substance acted upon by an enzyme in a chemical reaction.
Catalyst: Substance that causes or quickens a chemical reaction, without being affected by it.
Luciferin: Organic substances that upon oxidation produce a virtually heatless light (bioluminescence).
Luciferase: Enzyme (catalyst) that reacts with a substrate (luciferin) in a chemical reaction that results in bioluminescence.
To produce light, luciferase (the catalyst) reacts with luciferin (the substrate), to oxidize it. The products of this reaction are oxy-luciferin and visible light. Luciferin is the compound that actually produces light.
The substances luciferin and luciferase can be synthesized by the bioluminescent organism itself or they could be obtained through other organisms either through food, or out of a symbiotic relationship. Many marine animals, such as squid, house bioluminescent bacteria in their light organs (photophores). This is an example of a symbiotic relationship between the squid and the bacteria.