Bioluminescence – Detailed Notes
1. Introduction
Bioluminescence is the natural emission of visible light by living organisms through a biochemical
reaction. Unlike fluorescence or phosphorescence, bioluminescence originates from enzymatic
reactions within cells.
Historical Perspective:
- Ancient sailors observed glowing waves, which were due to bioluminescent dinoflagellates.
- Aristotle and Pliny the Elder described glowing fish and insects.
- The phenomenon was termed "cold light" because no noticeable heat is produced.
Key Characteristics:
- Light results from a luciferin-luciferase reaction or similar enzyme-substrate mechanisms.
- Energy is released in the form of photons instead of heat.
- Wavelength of emitted light: mostly blue-green (440–560 nm) since it penetrates water best.
2. Chemistry of Bioluminescence
Basic Reaction:
Luciferin + O■ → Oxyluciferin + Light (Catalyzed by luciferase).
Luciferins: small organic molecules, species-specific (firefly luciferin, bacterial luciferin,
coelenterazine).
Luciferases: enzymes catalyzing oxidation of luciferin.
Photoproteins: luciferin-protein complexes activated by Ca²■ (e.g., aequorin).
Quantum yield: highly efficient (up to 98%).
Bacterial pathway: FMNH■ + O■ + R–CHO → FMN + R–COOH + H■O + Light.
3. Mechanism and Physiology
- Controlled by quorum sensing in bacteria.
- Specialized light organs in squids, fishes.
- Energy from ATP or reduced cofactors.
- Color depends on luciferin structure, pH, ions, accessory proteins.
4. Distribution of Bioluminescence
- Bacteria: Vibrio, Photobacterium.
- Protists: dinoflagellates.
- Fungi: Armillaria, Panellus.
- Insects: fireflies, click beetles.
- Marine invertebrates: jellyfish, crustaceans.
- Fishes: anglerfish, lanternfish.
5. Functions
- Defense: startling flashes, camouflage, burglar-alarm effect.
- Offense: lure prey, confuse prey.
- Communication: firefly mating, bacterial quorum sensing.
- Symbiosis: squid + Vibrio.
6. Applications
- Research: reporter genes, ATP detection, calcium imaging.
- Medical: infection detection, cancer imaging, drug testing.
- Environmental: pollutant biosensors.
- Industrial: food contamination testing, decorative glowing organisms.
7. Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
- Highly energy efficient, useful as markers, effective in deep-sea, species-specific.
Disadvantages:
- Requires metabolic energy, niche-specific, may attract predators, often short-lived.
8. Case Studies
- Fireflies: mating signals.
- Dinoflagellates: "milky seas".
- Anglerfish: glowing lure for prey.
- Hawaiian bobtail squid + Vibrio: camouflage symbiosis.
9. Recent Advances
- Synthetic biology: glowing plants.
- Medical imaging: dual reporter systems.
- Nanotech: BRET biosensors.
- CRISPR: luciferase as gene-editing reporter.
10. Conclusion
Bioluminescence is a unique adaptation for survival, communication, and predation. It has great
biotechnological and medical value, and future advances may make it practical for lighting and
diagnostics.
