Studies on the bioluminescence of Renilla renoformis

• 1.

  1. During the bioluminescent reaction of the sea pansy, Renilla reniformis, an activated intermediate had previously been described which forms upon incubating Renilla luciferin, Ado-3′-5′-P₂, Ca²⁺, and Renilla lucidferase under anaerobic conditions. A chemically identical intermediate can be formed in the absence of Ado-3′-5′-P₂ and luciferase by treating luciferin at pH 1.0 for 2 min at 100°, during which time a quantitative conversion to the intermediate occurs as judged by total light measurements. Once the intermediate is formed it can be oxidized rapidly by O₂ or H₂O₂, in the absence of luciferase, via a non-luminescent pathway.

• 2.

  2. Since a relatively slow conversion of luciferin to the activated intermediate occurs at high pH at 100° or at pH 7.0 at 130° the suggestion is made that the mechanism of the Ado-3′,5′-P₂-dependent activation of Renilla luciferin involves the cleavage of an unidentified group from the luciferin molecule.