Anctil M, Shimomura O
Biochem J. 1984 Jul 1;221(1):269-72. doi: 10.1042/bj2210269.
The bioluminescence of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis takes place when the photoprotein mnemiopsin in the photocytes reacts with Ca2+. The luminescence is inhibited in sunlight and this photoinhibition is reversible by keeping the live specimens in the dark. The extracts of mnemiopsin are similarly photoinhibited, but the photoinhibition cannot be reversed in the dark. We have found that photo-inhibited mnemiopsin can be re-activated in the dark by incubation with coelenterazine and O2 only in solutions having a pH very close to 9.0. The re-activation in vivo probably takes place in the same manner, using the coelenterazine that is supplied from its abundant storage form. Various lines of experimental evidence suggest that the photoinactivation of mnemiopsin results in the dissociation of coelenterazine and oxygen from the molecule of photoprotein; the dissociated form of the former molecule is an inactive form of coelenterazine, not free coelenterazine.
栉水母Mnemiopsis的生物发光发生在光细胞中的光蛋白海蜇萤光蛋白与Ca2+反应时。在阳光下发光受到抑制,并且通过将活体标本置于黑暗中,这种光抑制是可逆的。海蜇萤光蛋白提取物也同样受到光抑制,但在黑暗中光抑制不能逆转。我们发现,仅在pH非常接近9.0的溶液中,通过与腔肠素和O2一起孵育,光抑制的海蜇萤光蛋白可以在黑暗中重新激活。体内的重新激活可能以相同的方式发生,利用从其丰富的储存形式供应的腔肠素。各种实验证据表明,海蜇萤光蛋白的光失活导致腔肠素和氧从光蛋白分子中解离;前一种分子的解离形式是腔肠素的无活性形式,而不是游离的腔肠素。