A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF RADIATION ON BIOLUMINESCENT MATERIALS. Final Report

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1962

OSTI ID:4806629

Seliger, H H; McElroy, W D

Research progress is reported on the quantum yields of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence and the role of oxygen in biological oxidations. The luminal light reaction was examined as a means of establishing the mechanism for the firefly and bacterial bioluminescence. It was found that immediately after the light reaction the product fluorescence is identical with the chemiluninescence and is quenched strongly by the slightest trace of water. The quantum yield was dependent on the nature of the catalyst used to decompose H/sub 2/O/sub 2/. Experimental conditions were determined for the measurement of the quantum yeild of in vitro bacterial bioluminescence. Firefly ludiferin and oxyludiferin were synthesized. The chemiluminescence of firefly luciferin was observed in both the organic solvent dimethyl sulfoxide and aqueous solution. An investigation of the effects of light on contraetion of the iris sphineter of the European eel and frog. A mechanism was postulated for the role of bioluminescence in evolution. (M.C.G.)

• Research Organization: Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore. McCollum-Pratt Inst.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-028977
• OSTI ID: 4806629
• Report Number(s): NYO-10360
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMALS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGY
CHEMISTRY
FISH
FLUORESCENCE
FROGS
HYDROGEN PEROXIDES
LIGHT
LUCIFERIN
LUMINESCENCE
MEASURED VALUES
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN
PLANTS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
RADIATION EFFECTS
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENTS
WATER