Effect of very high magnetic field on the optical properties of firefly light emitter oxyluciferin

Abstract

a b s t r a c tMagnetic field effect on enzymatic reactions is under intensive study in the past decades. Recently, it was reported that firefly bioluminescence was suppressed and red-shifted significantly when exposed to external magnetic field. However in this work, by means of selective excitation, we confirmed that emission properties of firefly light emitter "oxyluciferin" are completely immune to external magnetic field of up to 53 T. These findings pose strong contrast to existing relevant results. Potential reasons for the discrepancies found and the underlying physics towards the understanding of firefly bioluminescence were discussed.

In vivo bioluminescence emissions of the firefly Luciola praeusta at low temperatures

“…In this experiment, in contrast to the observation that the steady-state spectrum of the Japanese species L. lateralis showed a redshift in the range of 540-580 nm under the strong static field [18], no peak-shift is noticed. However, in a very recent paper, posing strong contrast to existing relevant results, it is confirmed that emission properties of firefly light emitter oxyluciferin do not change with external high magnetic field of even up to 53 T [19]. In that paper, it is also noted that the color components do not change in the presence of a strong magnetic field.…”