Bioluminescence Ptychodera flava

Fig. 10.4.3 Left panel Bioluminescence spectrum of the acorn worm Ptychodera flava stimulated with H2O2. Right panel (a) The spectrum of the chemiluminescence emitted when 70% dioxane containing 1.7% H2C>2 (5 ml) was added to a mixture of a solution of 2,3,5,6-tetrabromohydroquinone (TBHQ) in ethyl acetate (2.5 ml), 50 mM glycine buffer (pH 12.0 2.5 ml), and riboflavin (b) when riboflavin was omitted and (c) when TBHQ was omitted. Dioxane was included to solubilize the ethyl acetate solution containing TBHQ. From Kanakubo et al., 2005, with permission from Elsevier.

CHEMICAL STUDIES ON BIOLUMINESCENCE OF ACORN WORM, PTYCHODERA FLAVA ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LUMINOUS SUBSTANCES... 

Ptychodera flava (P. flava), smaller acom worm, was found in Kattore bay, Kohama Island, Okinawa by Higa. " Only the fact that P. flava emitted light by H2O2 was known. For the understanding of the molecular mechanism of bioluminescence, we determined the structures of luminous compounds and a possible light emitter. 

Akira Kanakubo (Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya Univeristy, Nagoya, Japan) Chemical studies on bioluminescence of Acorn worm, Ptychodera flava Isolation and characterization of luminous substances... 

The bioltiminescence of some enteropneusts is due to a series of bromohydroquinones and bromoquinones which have been isolated from Ptychodera flava of Japanese origin. The major bioluminescent substance is 2,3,5,6-tetrabromohydroquinone (TetraBHQ), which emits radiation at 528 nm in the presence of riboflavin (Kanakubo and Isobe, 2005). 

Bioluminescent bromohydroquinones and quinones from Ptychodera flava. 

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