Luciferins
| Definition: |
A generic term referring to a substrate which, upon oxidation by the enzyme luciferase, produces bioluminescence. Luciferins isolated from different species may vary greatly in structure, although in many cases identical structures have been found in widely diverse animals. The American firefly, Photinus pyralis, and its substrate have been studied extensively and is used in the assay of adenosine triphosphate. (From Merck Index, 12th ed) |
| Notes: |
luminescent upon oxidation |
| Also Called: |
Firefly Luciferins |
Luciferins Definitions and Terms
MedicalGlossary.org is designed as a free, browsable resource for all. The medical terms and definitions are not intended to replace medical informaion provided by licensed healthcare professionals. Please see a doctor if you need medical assistance. Don't see the medical term you were researching? Send us an e-mail from our "about us" page. We will do our best to research and classify new medical terms in a timely manner. Our current list of medical terms is over 26,000. Data sources include the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2004 Medical Subject Headings.
|