Studies on the Bioluminescence of Balanoglossus biminiensis Extracts

We have recently discovered a luminous marine enteropneust in the vicinity of the University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia, that has tentatively been identified as Balanoglossus biminiensis.In a preliminary communication we reported the successful demonstration of a luciferin-luciferase reaction in extracts of this organism and the identification of a third component required for luminescence (1).The latter compound was found to be hydrogen peroxide.The material presented in this paper concerns, in part, the methods involved in separation of balanoglossid luciferin from luciferase and the partial purification of luciferase.In addition, the effects of luciferin, HzOz, and enzyme concentrations on the rate of the luminescent reaction have been studied in detail, as well as other parameters such as pH and temperature.A portion of the data is intended to show that H202 is a required component of this luminescent reaction rather than an activator of either luciferin or luciferase.Thus this bioluminescent system is of interest, since it represents the first example of one that requires HzOz.This suggests that balanoglossid luciferase is a peroxidase, and, in fact, data are presented in the second paper of this series (2) showing that such is the case.