Firefly luciferin as a multifunctional chemiluminescence molecule

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Luis Pinto da Silva (Author) Other; Joaquim C G E Esteves da Silva (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences

Vol. 12

Pages: 1615-1621

ISSN: 1474-905X

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 6 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 6 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

CORDIS: Physical sciences > Chemistry

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-006-FWP

DOI: 10.1039/c3pp50086a

Abstract (EN): The chemiluminescence properties of firefly luciferin were studied, in a variety of chemical systems different from those in which it is usually studied. It was found that luciferin is a multifunctional chemiluminescence molecule, as it can behave as a chemiluminescence sensitizer, an emitter and a substrate. The first two roles are here reported for the first time, while we have found a novel way of obtaining excited state oxyluciferin from luciferin. Evidence was also found that does not support the newly proposed radical-mechanism of the formation of firefly dioxetanone. With this study we hope to open the way for novel chemiluminescence applications for firefly luciferin.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7