Auto-oxidation in air

The absorption spectra of Watasenia luciferin (coelenterazine disulfate) and Watasenia oxyluciferin (coelenteramide disulfate) are shown in Fig. 6.3.2. Watasenia luciferin in neutral aqueous solutions is auto-oxidized in air more rapidly than coelenterazine, and the compound emits a strong chemiluminescence in the presence of H2O2 ( 10mM) plus Fe2+ ( 0.2mM). Watasenia oxyluciferin is strongly fluorescent in aqueous solutions (Amax 400 nm), 500 times stronger than the fluorescence of coelenteramide in aqueous media (Goto et al., 1974). 

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