The Nature of Animal LightHarvey, E. Newton (Edmund Newton)
Science
The Nature of Animal Light
Harvey, E. Newton (Edmund Newton)
Phosphorescence
These facts can all be explained by regarding luciferase as a catalyzer
which accelerates the oxidation of luciferin and by assuming that
intensity of luminescence is dependent on reaction velocity, _i.e._, on
rate of oxidation. Contrary to the condition for phosphorus and for
pyrogallol there appears to be no optimum concentration of luciferase or
luciferin, but the luminescence intensity increases gradually with
increasing concentration of luminous substances up to the point where
pure (?) luciferin and pure (?) luciferase, as secreted from the gland
cells of the animal, come in contact with each other. This, the maximum
brightness, is not to be compared with the light of an incandescent
solid, but is nevertheless visible in a well-lighted room, out of direct
sunlight.
The effect of temperature on _Cypridina_ luminescence also bears out the
preceding conclusions. For a given mixture of luciferin and luciferase
the light becomes more intense with increasing temperature up to a
definite optimum and then diminishes in intensity. The diminution in
intensity above the optimum is due to a reversible change in the
luciferase so that its active mass diminishes. This change becomes
irreversible in the neighborhood of 70° (depending on various
conditions), where coagulation of luciferase occurs. Light will appear
at 0° but it is far less intense than light at higher temperatures and
it is more yellow in color. The light of optimum temperatures is quite
blue. The weaker light at temperatures above the optimum is also more
yellow in color. I believe this difference in color is a function of the
slowed reaction velocity, for a mixture of luciferin and luciferase
which gives a bluish luminescence at room temperature, will give a
weaker and yellowish luminescence if diluted with water. Dilution with
water will slow the reaction velocity. If the difference in color were
not real but due to change in color sensitivity of the eye with
different intensities of such relatively weak light (Purkinje
phenomenon), the weaker light should appear more blue. As the weaker
light appears more yellow, I therefore believe the color difference is
actual and not subjective.
A minimum, optimum, and maximum temperature for luminescence is observed
in all luminous organisms. The minimum is usually very low. Luminous
bacteria will still light at -11.5° C. The power to luminesce under
ordinary conditions is not destroyed by exposure to liquid air, for, on
raising the temperature, light again appears (Macfayden, 1900, 1902).
Almost all organisms will luminesce at 0° C., and the luminescence
minimum probably represents the point at which complete freezing of the
luminous solution occurs. It is very low with bacteria because they are
solutions in capillary spaces of very small size, a condition tending to
lower the freezing point.
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