Energy transfer protein in coelenterate bioluminescence

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Biol. Chem.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5099673

Ward, W W; Cormier, M J

Bioluminescence in the sea pansy, Renilla reniformis, a marine anthozoan coelenterate, is a complex process involving the participation of three proteins. These are: (1) the luciferin-binding protein, (2) the enzyme luciferase, and (3) the green-fluorescent protein (GFP). Luciferin-binding protein is a specific subtrate-binding protein which binds one molecule of coelenterate-type luciferin per molecule of protein and which then releases luciferin in the presence of Ca/sup 2 +/. Luciferase is the enzyme which catalyzes oxidation (by O/sub 2/) of coelenterate-type luciferin, leading to the production of CO/sub 2/ and enzyme-bound excited-state oxyluciferin. Oxyluciferin may then emit blue light by a direct de-excitation pathway or may transfer excitation energy to GFP. GFP is a noncatalytic accessory protein which accepts excitation energy from oxyluciferin, by radiationless energy transfer, and then emits green bioluminescence. In this paper the purification methods and physicochemical characteristics of GFP from R. reniformis are presented, and in the companion article luciferin-binding protein is described.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Georgia, Athens
• OSTI ID: 5099673
• Journal Information: J. Biol. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Biol. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 254:3; ISSN JBCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
551000 -- Physiological Systems
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALBUMINS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CALCIUM IONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMILUMINESCENCE
CNIDARIA
DE-EXCITATION
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
ENZYMES
IONS
KINETICS
LUCIFERIN
LUMINESCENCE
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PROTEINS
PURIFICATION
RADIATIONLESS DECAY
REACTION KINETICS