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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.

See Examples For:

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

Free-living V. fischeri do not produce luciferase, the enzyme responsible for luminescence, but V. fischeri living in a symbiotic relationship with the squid do.

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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