Bioluminescence biochemistry: Luciferin-luciferase reactions, photoprotein function, and light production in deep-sea organisms

Abstract

Bioluminescence represents a fascinating biochemical phenomenon where living organisms convert chemical energy into visible light. This research examined the enzymatic mechanisms underlying light production in marine organisms, focusing on luciferin-luciferase reactions and calcium-regulated photoproteins. Experiments conducted at Warsaw Institute of Applied Sciences from May 2023 to September 2024 characterized recombinant luciferases from firefly and marine sources alongside the photoprotein aequorin. Kinetic analysis revealed Michaelis constants of 28.4 μM for firefly luciferin and 0.87 μM for coelenterazine substrates. Quantum yield measurements showed firefly bioluminescence achieved 41.3% efficiency compared to 17.8% for bacterial systems. Temperature optima ranged from 22 °C for marine enzymes to 28 °C for firefly luciferase. These findings advance understanding of natural light-producing systems with applications in bioimaging and biosensor development.