INDUCTION OF BIOLUMINESCENCE IN THE MARINE FISH, Porichthys, BY Vargula (CRUSTACEAN) LUCIFERIN. EVIDENCE FOR de novo SYNTHESIS OR RECYCLING OF LUCIFERIN

The marine fish, Porichthys notatus, emits light by a classical luciferin‐luciferase reaction whose components are similar, if not identical, to those found in the luminescent crustacean, Vargula. Porichthys is divided geographically into a southern luminescent and a northern nonluminescent population. Specimens of nonluminescent Porichthys can be induced to become luminescent by injection or ingestion of Vargula luciferin. After feeding a known quantity of Vargula luciferin, light emitted by Porichthys was monitored for a 2‐yr period. Summation of light produced during each bioluminescence episode demonstrated that the total quanta emitted over 2 yr exceeded the theoretical yield from the administered luciferin. These results indicate that the administered luciferin either recycles or induces de novo synthesis of additional luciferin in Porichthys.