Studies on the bioluminescence of Renilla renoformis

Abstract

Abstract 1. 1. During the bioluminescent reaction of the sea pansy, Renilla reniformis , an activated intermediate had previously been described which forms upon incubating Renilla luciferin, Ado-3′-5′- P 2 , Ca 2+ , and Renilla lucidferase under anaerobic conditions. A chemically identical intermediate can be formed in the absence of Ado-3′-5′- P 2 and luciferase by treating luciferin at pH 1.0 for 2 min at 100°, during which time a quantitative conversion to the intermediate occurs as judged by total light measurements. Once the intermediate is formed it can be oxidized rapidly by O 2 or H 2 O 2 , in the absence of luciferase, via a non-luminescent pathway. 2. 2. Since a relatively slow conversion of luciferin to the activated intermediate occurs at high pH at 100° or at pH 7.0 at 130° the suggestion is made that the mechanism of the Ado -3′,5′- P 2 -dependent activation of Renilla luciferin involves the cleavage of an unidentified group from the luciferin molecule.