Spectroscopy of (carbon monoxy)hemocyanins. Phosphorescence of the binuclear carbonylated copper centers.

The luminescence of CO-hemocyanin has been studied in several hemocyanins from both arthropods and molluscs. All of them show an emission in the region 550-560 nm with quantum yield = 0.2-0.4, though individual differences are apparent. Solvent composition (as well as the presence of calcium and lanthanides) has no effect on the emission. Lifetimes of this luminescence are in the range 60-140 microseconds, indicating that the emitting state may be a triplet. The presence of both copper atoms (Cu+) per CO binding site is required for the luminescent state since half-met and half-apo derivatives do not show such an emission. Though not clearly related to any of the functional properties, systematic differences in luminescence parameters are apparent between arthropodal and molluscan hemocyanins. Limulus hemocyanin appears to be very different from both types of hemocyanin.