ISSN:
1573-4919
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Scintillons are particles found in extracts of the bioluminescent dinoflagellateGonyaulax which emit a flash of lightin vitro when the pH is lowered from 8 to 5.7. Although extracts also contain active soluble elements, namely a substrate (luciferin) and enzyme (luciferase), simple washing of scintillons does not release substantial quantities of these elements. By extracting at a high ionic strength, a protein-bound form of the substrate has been reversibly dissociated, while treatment with the detergent Triton X-100 or aging releases the enzyme. The results suggest that the substrate-binding protein is bound to the particle chiefly by electrostatic forces, whereas the attachment of luciferase involves instead hydrophobic interactions, and that the two are present in the particles in approximately equal amounts. The results also indicate that the properties of the components of the reaction are not greatly changed when they are particulate. The molecular organization of this system and its physiological meaning are discussed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01659180
Permalink