STRUCTURE OF CYPRIDINA BILUCIFERYL, A DIMER OF CYPRIDINA LUCIFERYL RADICAL HAVING BIOLUMINESCENT ACTIVITY

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)61889-0

Structure of Cypridina biluciferyl (luciferyl radical dimer), which is produced by chemical oxidation of C. luciferin with such as ferricyanide, was determined to be the symmetric 5,5'-dimer of C. luciferin.It gives light in the presence of C. luciferase, although the bioluminescent rate is very low.We suggest that the biluciferyl is an intermediate in the oxidation of the luciferin to C. luciferinol.