Experiments of the Bioluminescence Using Cypridina hilgendorfii

Abstract

This paper deals with the bioluminescence of Cypridina hilgendofii as a teaching material in upper secondary school biology education. In the experiments of the bioluminescence using C.hilgendofii, usually luciferin is extracted with hot water from the dried material to inactivate luciferase. However, in the present study it was found that the luminescence activity of luciferin was extremely decreased by heating. In fact, luciferin extracts which were prepared after the method described in the textbook of biology showed only weak luminescence on mixing luciferase solution. In order to obtain active luciferin extracts some attempts were made using various organic solvents. As a result, extraction with methanol from the dried powder of material was found to be most effective for preparing luciferin. On the basis of the results obtained, the authors presented a typical experiment system for the study of luciferin-luciferase reaction. In the experiment students will be able to observe strong bioluminescence in a test tube and examine the reaction being catalysed by the enzyme luciferase.