Etmopteruslantern sharks use coelenterazine as the substrate for their luciferin-luciferase bioluminescence system

Abstract

The lantern shark, Etmopterus, are a group of deep-sea bioluminescent species. They emit blue light mainly from ventral body surface, and the major biological function is considered to be a counterillumination. In this study, we detected both coelenterazine and coelenterazine-specific luciferase activity in the ventral photophore tissue. These results suggested that the lantern shark use coelenterazine as a substrate for the luciferin-luciferase reaction of their bioluminescence.

Semi-Intrinsic Luminescence in Marine Organisms

“…A major source of coelenterazine is found in the copepod M. pacifica which is grazed Semi-Intrinsic Luminescence in Marine Organisms DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99369 upon by a variety of organisms including coelenterates, lanternfishes, euphausiids, and radiolarians. Additionally, these animals, particularly lanternfishes are predated upon by tertiary consumers such as squid, stomiid fishes and luminescent sharks [110]. The consumption of copepods by zooplankton and higher taxa can lead to particulate organic matter or marine snow forming and descending to the depths of the ocean.…”