2. BIOLUMINESCENCE
• Controlled production and emission of light
by living organisms through the oxidative
transduction of chemical energy to radiant
energy.
•
3. • Found in phylogenetically un relatewd groups
without any evolutionary pattern
• Bacteria,fungi,protists,sponges,coelenterates,
ctenophores,nematodes,annelids,crustaceans,
insects,centipedes,mellipedes,molluscs,echino
derms,hemichordates,tunicates and fishes
4. • Luminous marine species-abyssal,
littorial ,planktonic forms.
• Especially impressive among unlighted depth
of the sea.
• Colour-Blue green, white, green yellow -
orange,.red -rare .
• Brightest light-Pyrophorus noctilucus(45 milli
lamberts)
5. CLASSIFICATION OF BIOLUMINESCENCE
1 Symbiotic- light producing symbiotic
bactweria, eg- squids,deep sea teleost fishes.
2 Extra cellular-Marine invertibrates, light
producing organ in the form of extra cellular
,multicellular glands discharge their secretions
in to exterior.
3 Intra cellular- Cephalapods,fishes,noctiluca
milaris,
6. BIOLUMINESCENCE IN FISHES
• Bony fishes- bioluminescence is intra cellular.
• Some cases photophore organs provided with
lens, reflector surface,pigmented layers.
• Deep sea fishes – luminescence is symbiotic.
7. BACTERIAL BIOLUMINESCENCE
• Lux operon –controll the expression of genes
responsible for bioluminescence.
• Linked with flamin nucleotides.
8. COELENTERATES BIOLUMINESCENCE
• Anthozoan renilla –luciferin exists in a bound
form in the photocytes.
• Complexed with a protein called luciferin
binding protein.
9. SIGNIFICANCE OF BIOLUMINESCENCE
• As a mating signal-fire flies.
• Conspecific recognition signal- flash emission of
light emission are species as well .as sex specific.
• Adaptation to attract the prey. -
angler fish,cave dwelling larvae (glow worm) of
the dipteran fly of New Zealand.
• Adaptation for defence. –deep sea squid
Heteroteuthis burst of light -startle the predator.
10. APPLICATIONS OF BIOLUMINESCENCE
• Used to study the effects of drugs
,narcotics,temperature,pressure, and pH on
living systems.
• Serve as the basis of bioassey methods for
the quantitative determination of ATP ,free
intra cellular calcium etc.
11. MJOR APPLICATIOONS OF CURRENT
IMPORTANBCE
• Space research-to explore the existence of life
forms from mars or other planets.
• Medical research-Injections of luciferin and
luciferase exhibit different reactions in
normal and cancerous cells. Used in study
heart ailments muscular dystrophy, urological
problems etc.
12. • Pest management-used as a tool for mapping
the distribution patterns of organisms.
• Flourescent marker gene- flourescent marker
genes make the transformed cells glow under
light.
