luciferase
Americannoun
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.
Like all bioluminescent organisms, marine ostracods and terrestrial fireflies both rely on a specialized enzyme called luciferase to produce their signature glow.
From Science Magazine • Nov. 28, 2023
There has been limited research on bioluminescence and luciferase, which is sometimes extracted for medical science.
From Salon • Sep. 21, 2023
The ability to luminesce does not benefit free-living bacteria, so free-living bacteria do not produce luciferase.
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.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
