Title: Luciferin
Literature References: A generic term referring to a substrate which, upon oxidation by the enzyme luciferase, produces bioluminescence. Luciferins isolated from different species may vary greatly in structure, although in many cases identical structures have been found in widely diverse animals. The most widely studied luciferins are those isolated from the sea pansey, Renilla reniformis, the ostracod, Cypridina hilgendorfii, the limpet, Latia neritoides, and the firefly, Photinus pyralis (see separate entry, Firefly Luciferin). Structure of Renilla reniformis luciferin: K. Hori et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74, 4285 (1977). Review: M. J. Cormier et al., Fortschr. Chem. Org. Naturst. 30, 1-60 (1973). |