Fireflies Photuris pyralis

Beetle or Fly? Beetle

The firefly light is called a "cold light" because it produces no heat.

Each species has a unique signal, and females of some species thereby locate males of other species and eat them.

A female Photuris sp. ready to devour a prey male. These femme fatales use flash signals to lure in males of other species by imitating their females' flash patterns.

The insect controls the emission of light by regulating the amount of air supplied to the cells (photocytes). A lot like the glow-in-the dark sticks at Halloween

Mating Fireflies

GLOWWORMS These, along with firefly larvae, are often called glowworms.

Luciferin Used as a bio indicator of life

Needs ATP As a cofactor The luciferin-luciferase chemical reaction has been used for years to measure the amount of ATP produced in cells and by various chemical reactions.

Role of membranes? Many enzymes that control a cell’s chemical reactions are located in membranes. Control the substances that go in and out of a cell.

Making light Step 1 luciferin luciferin + ATP > luciferyl adenylate + PPi PPi = pyrophosphate enzyme

Making Light Step 2 lightluciferyl adenylate + O > oxyluciferin +AMP + light Light is given off and the oxyluciferin and AMP are released from the enzyme's surface.

Ever seen a glow-in-the dark mushroom? Recently, the gene (section of DNA coding for the protein) for the luciferase enzyme has been isolated, placed in the genes of other organisms