The mechanical triggering of bioluminescence in marine dinoflagellates: Chemical basis

Hamman, J. P.; Seliger, H. H.

doi:10.1002/jcp.1040800310

Cited by 55 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Mechanical stimulation was provided by a small motor-driven stirrer like that employed by Hamman and Seliger (16) and was continued for 1 min. The total light emitted from each of two or three samples was recorded at 3-hr intervals over three or four cycles of the rhythm in stimulated bioluminescence.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potassium Content of Gonyaulax polyedra and Phase Changes in the Circadian Rhythm of Stimulated Bioluminescence by Short Exposures to Ethanol and Valinomycin

Sweeney

1974

Plant Physiol.

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A circadian rhythm in the intracellular level of K+ in Gonyaulax polyedra is reported. When axenic cultures of Gonyaulax in continuous light (60-75 foot candles) are exposed for 4 hours to 0.1 or 0.2 % ethanol, the subsequent freerunning rhythm in stimulated bioluminescence is phase-shifted, the amount and direction of the shift being dependent on the time in the circadian cycle when cells are treated. The phaseresponse curve for ethanol closely resembles that for light in similarly maintained cells. When valinomycin (0.1 or 0.2 ,ug ml-') is present in addition to ethanol, the phase of the bioluminescence rhythm is returned to that of an untreated cell suspension. Valinomycin thus negates the effect of ethanol on phase. The intracellular K+ level immediately after treatment of a cell suspension for 4 hours with ethanol (0.1% ) is about half that of untreated cells. If valinomycin (0.1 ug ml-') is also present during the 4-hour treatment, the intracellular K+ is only slightly lower than in untreated cells. Increasing the external concentration of K+ or Na+ for 4 hours has no effect on the rhythm of stimulated bioluminescence. These results are interpreted as support for the hypothesis that the mechanism by which circadian oscillations are generated involves changes in membrane properties.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potassium Content of Gonyaulax polyedra and Phase Changes in the Circadian Rhythm of Stimulated Bioluminescence by Short Exposures to Ethanol and Valinomycin

Sweeney

1974

Plant Physiol.

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“…In addition, the characteristics of the "microflashes" from such organelles are those of the "macroflash" of the organism (Eckert, 1966). Apart from mechanical stimulation, light emission can be induced electrically or chemically (Ca", K', NH; and H + ) (Hamman and Seliger, 1972).…”

Section: Protozoans: Dinojlagellatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioluminescence: Physiological Control and Regulation at the Molecular Level

Henry

Michelson

1978

Photochem & Photobiology

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Abstract-Three different classes of bioluminescence have been critically reviewed with special reference to the molecular physiology of control and regulation of light emission in its various forms. INTRODUC'IIONBioluminescence may be defined as emission by living organisms of light which is visible to the eye. Sometimes the function of this phenomenon in behavioural terms is quite clear, as in the case of fireflies (sexual attraction) or the angler fish (attraction of victims) but often a function which would satisfy human logic is obscure, as with luminescent bacteria.If we consider as axiomatic that light emission occurs in order to be seen [this excludes other possible hypotheses such as oxygen desintoxification or production of activated oxygen species ] the bioluminescent reaction must satisfy certain conditions: (1) the quantum yield must be as high as possible, (2) the energy range, i.e. the colour, must be adapted to the receptor organs of the second partner in this social exchange, and (3) tight intensity (rate of production of photons) is more important than total light emitted. Thus, a short lived high level emission, with a duration of fraction of a second, can be more useful than low level emission over a much longer time. The third of these conditions is perhaps the most interesting, since it implies a completely different enzymology in which the 'catalytic properties of the protein functioning as an enzyme are less significant than the control and synchronization of the enzymic system.Bioluminescence is the result of enzymic oxidations which differ in many characteristics among the various zoological groups (Harvey, 1952). Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the number of distinct enzymic systems is considerably less than the number of species showing bioluminescence. This is due to various factors, among which is the existence of a relationship between the luciferases and luciferins from one species to another (not necessarily closely related), for example Cypridina (ostracod crustacean) and Renilla (coelenterate). Symbiotic phenomena also play a role, for example luminescent bacteria in fish, as well as dietetic pathways, e.g. fish and crustaceans. These diverse enzymic reactions can be adapted in various ways to satisfy the conditions mentioned above. Thus, while a simple bioluminescent reaction can be writtenpresence of a third highly fluorescent component can increase the overall quantum yield as a result of energy transfer. Localization of substrate can be such that the enzyme operates at V,,, thus satisfying the third condition.Apart from molecular organization, various levels of physiological control can be exercised by three major mechanisms: (1) the necessary components are excreted and the enzymic reaction takes place outside of the emitting individual, e.g. Pholas dactylus (mollusc) and Cypridina, (2) the reaction is intracellular but the intensity does not vary or varies very slowly, e.g. bacteria and fungi, and (3) the reaction is intracellular and is highly controlled by the indivi...

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“…Preliminary results not included here confirmed the prediction that the autofluorescence of night phase cells as measured by flow cytometry is lower in nonphotoinhibited cells as compared with cells that have been photoinhibited as in the following experiments. Table I includes data showing that ionic treatments have less effect upon the fluorescence of cells in their subjective "day" phase, as is also true for ionic effects on bioluminescence (14). Table I also shows that unstimulated cells in their day phase are substantially less fluorescent than those in night phase as is evident as well from the histogram plots of Fig.…”

Section: Flow Cytometric Studiesmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…Because the ions diffuse through a layer (-3 mm) of agarose before reaching the cell in focus, high concentrations were used to reduce the time required to elicit luminescence: 3 M CaC12 or KCI, concentrated NH4OH, or glacial acetic acid. Much lower concentrations are sufficient for cells in solution where mixing is rapid ( 14,15).…”

Section: Te Journal Of Cell Biology ' Volume Lo0 1985mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Compartmentalization of algal bioluminescence: autofluorescence of bioluminescent particles in the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax as studied with image-intensified video microscopy and flow cytometry.

Johnson¹,

Inoue²,

Flint³

et al. 1985

The Journal of Cell Biology

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Compartmentalization of specialized functions to discrete locales is a fundamental theme of eucaryotic organization in cells. We report here that bioluminescence of the dinoflagellate alga Gonyaulax originates in vivo from discrete subcellular loci that are intrinsically fluorescent. We demonstrate this localization by comparing the loci of fluorescence and bioluminescence as visualized by image-intensified video microscopy. These fluorescent particles appeared to be the same as the previously described in vitro "scintillons." We attribute the endogenous fluorescence to that of the bioluminescence substrate, luciferin, because (a) the fluorescence excitation and emission characteristics are comparable, (b) the autofluorescence is lost after exhaustive stimulation of bioluminescence, and (c) the fluorescence of discharged particles in vitro can be restored by adding luciferin. The fluorescence in vivo exhibits a standard property of circadian (daily) rhythmicity: under constant environmental conditions, the intensity of the particle fluorescence fluctuates cyclically (it is maximal during the night phase and is low during the day). Thus, luciferin is localized within the cell at discrete loci from which the bioluminescence emanates; the cellular quantity of luciferin is rhythmically modulated by the circadian clock.

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The mechanical triggering of bioluminescence in marine dinoflagellates: Chemical basis

Cited by 55 publications

References 20 publications

The Potassium Content of Gonyaulax polyedra and Phase Changes in the Circadian Rhythm of Stimulated Bioluminescence by Short Exposures to Ethanol and Valinomycin

The Potassium Content of Gonyaulax polyedra and Phase Changes in the Circadian Rhythm of Stimulated Bioluminescence by Short Exposures to Ethanol and Valinomycin

Bioluminescence: Physiological Control and Regulation at the Molecular Level

Compartmentalization of algal bioluminescence: autofluorescence of bioluminescent particles in the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax as studied with image-intensified video microscopy and flow cytometry.

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