luciferin
English
Etymology
Latin lūcifer (“light bringer”) + -in
Noun
luciferin (plural luciferins)
- (biochemistry) Any of a class of polycyclic heterocycles that are responsible for the bioluminescence of fireflies, being converted to oxyluciferin by luciferase in the process.
- 2017 October 6, Ed Yong, “The Most Beautiful Death Trap”, in The Atlantic:
- Aptly enough, glowworms light up their underworld with a pair of chemicals that have a satanic etymology—luciferins and luciferases, after the Latin for “light bringer.”
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Derived terms
- aminoluciferin
- luciferyl
- luciferase
- oxyluciferin
Translations
biochemistry: any of a class of polycyclic heterocycles
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