Fluorescent Antenna Proteins from the Bioluminescent Bacteria

Abstract The emission spectrum from bioluminescent bacteria has been observed to depend on the type of bacteria. Photobacterium phosphoreum species usually show bioluminescence maxima around 472 nm and Photobacterium leiognathi species to slightly longer wavelength. A certain strain (Yl) of Vibrio fischeri, has a yellow bioluminescence with maximum at 542 nm. These differences have been explained as due to the bioluminescence originating from the fluorescence transition of an “antenna” protein, participating in the bioluminescence reaction along with the enzyme bacterial luciferase. The bioluminescence from a number of coelenterates involves a similar participation of an antenna protein, the famous “Green-Fluorescent Protein” being the origin of the bioluminescence emission from these organisms.