fireflies photuris pyralis. beetle or fly? beetle
TRANSCRIPT
Fireflies
Photuris pyralis
Beetle or Fly?
• Beetle
The firefly light is called a "cold light" because it produces no heat.
• Each species has a unique signal, and females of some species thereby locate males of other species and eat them.
• A female Photuris sp. ready to devour a prey male. These femme fatales use flash signals to lure in males of other species by imitating their females' flash patterns.
• The insect controls the emission of light by regulating the amount of air supplied to the cells (photocytes).
• A lot like the glow-in-the dark sticks at Halloween
Mating Fireflies
GLOWWORMSGLOWWORMS
• These, along with firefly larvae, are often called glowworms.
Luciferin
• Used as a bio indicator of life
Needs ATP
• As a cofactor• The luciferin-luciferase chemical
reaction has been used for years to measure the amount of ATP produced in cells and by various chemical reactions.
Role of membranes?
• Many enzymes that control a cell’s chemical reactions are located in membranes.
• Control the substances that go in and out of a cell.
Making light Step 1
luciferinluciferin + ATP ------------->
luciferyl adenylate + PPi
PPi = pyrophosphate
enzyme
Making Light Step 2• luciferyl adenylate + O2 -------------
> oxyluciferin +AMP + lightlight
• Light is given off and the oxyluciferin and AMP are released from the enzyme's surface.
Ever seen a glow-in-the dark mushroom?
• Recently, the gene (section of DNA coding for the protein) for the luciferase enzyme has been isolated, placed in the genes of other organisms