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luciferase

American  
[loo-sif-uh-reys] / luˈsɪf ə reɪs /

noun

Biochemistry.
  1. an enzyme in bioluminescent organisms that catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin, a light-emitting pigment.


Etymology

Origin of luciferase

First recorded in 1885–90; lucifer(in) ( def. ) + -ase ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There has been limited research on bioluminescence and luciferase, which is sometimes extracted for medical science.

From Salon • Sep. 21, 2023

Moreover, those tiny differences in the ostracod luciferase “correlate with different types of signals,” as this enzyme’s activity can dictate the brightness, duration, and other features of each flash.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 24, 2022

The squid produces the luminescent luciferase enzyme, so bacteria living outside the squid do not luminesce.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Like many bioluminescent animals their light is created by a reaction between the light-emitting molecule luciferin and the enzyme luciferase.

From National Geographic • Jun. 30, 2018

Luciferine: a substance in the blood of luminous beetles which, when brought into contact with luciferase, produces light.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

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