Abstract
AbstractIn studies of the bioluminescence of 11 species of phengodid collected in central and southeast Brazil, we have found that: (1) their lateral lanterns emit light in the yellow‐green region (λmax= 540–580 nm) and the head lantern color is shifted to the red region (λmax= 565–620 nm), (2) the luciferins of both types of lanterns are identical to that of lampyrids and elaterids and (3) the luciferase physicochemical properties are also similar to those of lampyrids and elaterids (optimum pH ca 8.1; Km(ATP) = 260–370 μM, Kμ(luciferin) = 170–400 μM; molecular weight ca 60 kDa; apparent activation energy of in vitro bioluminescence ca 58 kJ/mol). Thus the bioluminescence system of phengodids appears to be essentially the same as that of lampyrids and elaterids. The different bioluminescence colors of the lanterns of Phrixothrix species (λhead= 600–620 nm; λlateral= 535–565 nm) and other phengodid species are probably elicited by the presence of luciferase isoenzymes, as occurs in the case of elaterid prothoracic and abdominal lanterns.
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