Luminescent bacteria
Luminescent bacteria emit
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 on light-production[1]
Characteristics of the phenomenon
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 brighter (or only exist) at night, following a circadian rhythm
.
See also
- Dinoflagellates
- Vibrio fischeri, Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio phosphoreum)
References
- PMID 10398554.
External links
- Bioluminescence Lecture Notes
- Bioluminescence Webpage
- Isolation of Vibrio phosphoreum
- Luminescent Bacteria
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Bioluminescence
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