Luminescent bacteria

Luminescent bacteria

Luminescent bacteria emit light as the result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted to light energy. Luminescent bacteria exist as symbiotic organisms carried within a larger organism, such as many deep sea organisms, including the Lantern Fish, the Angler fish, certain jellyfish, certain clams and the Gulper Eel. The light is generated by an enzyme-catalyzed chemoluminescence reaction, wherein the pigment luciferin is oxidised by the enzyme luciferase. The expression of genes related to bioluminescence is controlled by an operon called the lux operon.

Some species of luminescent bacteria possess quorum sensing, the ability to determine local population by the concentration of chemical messengers. Species which have quorum sensing can turn on and off certain chemical pathways, commonly luminescence; in this way, once population levels reach a certain point the bacteria switch off light-production.cite journal | author = Meighen E | title = Autoinduction of light emission in different species of bioluminescent bacteria | journal = Luminescence | volume = 14 | issue = 1 | pages = 3–9 | year = 1999 | pmid = 10398554 | doi = 10.1002/(SICI)1522-7243(199901/02)14:1<3::AID-BIO507>3.0.CO;2-4 | doilabel = 10.1002/(SICI)1522-7243(199901/02)14:13::AID-BIO5073.0.CO;2-4]

Characteristics of the phenomenon

Bioluminescence is a form of luminescence, or "cold light" emission; less than 20% of the light generates thermal radiation. It should not be confused with fluorescence, phosphorescence or refraction of light. Most forms of bioluminescence are lighter (or only exist) at night, following a circadian rhythm.

ee also

*Dinoflagellates
*Vibrionaceae (e.g. "Vibrio fischeri", "Vibrio harveyi", "Vibrio phosphoreum")

References

External links

* [http://www.science.siu.edu/microbiology/micr460/460%20Pages/460.biolum.html Bioluminescence Lecture Notes]
* [http://lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/ Bioluminescence Webpage]
* [http://www.disknet.com/indiana_biolab/b203.htm Isolation of Vibrio phosphoreum]
* [http://www.biology.pl/bakterie_sw/index_en.html Luminescent Bacteria]
* [http://siobiolum.ucsd.edu/Biolum_intro.html Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Bioluminescence]

'


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • luminescent organ — 1. Specialized light emitting organs of various invertebrates; see bioluminescence. 2. (MOLLUSCA: Cephalopoda) Open ectodermal pockets filled with luminescent bacteria …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • bioluminescence — bioluminescent, adj. /buy oh looh meuh nes euhns/, n. the production of light by living organisms. [1915 20; BIO + LUMINESCENCE] * * * Emission of light by an organism or biochemical system (e.g., the glow of bacteria on decaying meat or fish,… …   Universalium

  • N-Acyl homoserine lactone — General chemical structure of an N acyl homoserine lactone N Acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs or N AHLs) are a class of signaling molecules involved in bacterial quorum sensing. Quorum sensing is a method of communication between bacteria that… …   Wikipedia

  • Maqsudul Alam — Born Faridpur Institutions University of Hawaii at Manoa Alma mater …   Wikipedia

  • Pulley Ridge — is a coral reef off the coast of southwestern Florida, United States [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050104111943.htm] . The reef lies 1000 miles west of the Tortugas Ecological Reserve and stretches north about 60 miles. The ridge… …   Wikipedia

  • DIYbio — Founded by Mackenzie Cowell and Jason Bobe,[1] DIYbio is a network[2] of individuals from around the globe that aims to help make biology a worthwhile pursuit for citizen scientists, amateur biologists, and do …   Wikipedia

  • luciferin — /looh sif euhr in/, n. Biochem. a pigment occurring in luminescent organisms, as fireflies, that emits light when undergoing oxidation. [1885 90; < L lucifer (see LUCIFER) + IN2] * * * ▪ biochemistry       in biochemistry, any of several organic… …   Universalium

  • Photobacterium phosphoreum — Taxobox color = lightgrey name = Photobacterium phosphoreum image caption = regnum = Bacteria phylum = Proteobacteria classis = Gammaproteobacteria ordo = Vibrionales familia = Vibrionaceae genus = Photobacterium species = P. phosphoreum binomial …   Wikipedia

  • Herring scad — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum …   Wikipedia

  • symbiosis — the living together of two species to their mutual benefit, e.g. luminescent bacteria in photophores of certain fishes; hydroid polyps which grow on and camouflage Minous; and anemone fish (Amphiprion) with sea anemones, where the territorial… …   Dictionary of ichthyology

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”