Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An enzyme present in the cells of bioluminescent organisms that catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin and ATP, producing light.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One of the two special substances by the reactions of which light is supposed to be produced by fireflies.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Biochem.) an enzyme which catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin, thereby producing bioluminescence.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biochemistry Any one of a group of enzymes that produce bioluminescence by oxidizing luciferin.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[lucifer(in) + –ase.]

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Examples

  • To track leukemia onset and response to therapy, the scientists tagged all leukemia cells with a gene from fireflies that encodes an enzyme called luciferase, which makes leukemia cells glow and detectable by a ultrasensitive camera.

    innovations-report 2009

  • The Swedes would add one base of DNA at a time first A then C then G then T and, starting with the release of pyrophosphate, use a clever chemical domino effect involving an enzyme called luciferase, extracted from fireflies, to turn the chemical cue into a pulse of light.

    The $1,000 Genome Kevin Davies 2010

  • Firefly larvae start out their lives chomping on escargot, and then evolve into glamorous flying creatures who manufacture an enzyme called luciferase, which is all glowy and also can be used to tell if cows are sick.

    Archive 2007-05-01 Blackie Lagoon 2007

  • Firefly larvae start out their lives chomping on escargot, and then evolve into glamorous flying creatures who manufacture an enzyme called luciferase, which is all glowy and also can be used to tell if cows are sick.

    Firefly eventually Blackie Lagoon 2007

  • To understand how ATP is used in the brain, Dr. Ryan and his team will target a luminescent molecule derived from fireflies, called luciferase, to synapses.

    Newswise: Latest News 2010

  • Using a unique test created at UTMB that adds a light-emitting molecular beacon, called luciferase, to Ebola viruses and the virus-like particles, the investigators were able to determine exactly when and where each broke out of its bubble, and track its progress.

    innovations-report 2008

  • Using a unique test created at UTMB that adds a light-emitting molecular beacon, called luciferase, to Ebola viruses and the virus-like particles, the investigators were able to determine exactly when and where each broke out of its bubble, and track its progress.

    innovations-report 2008

  • Using a unique test created at UTMB that adds a light-emitting molecular beacon, called luciferase, to Ebola viruses and the virus-like particles, the investigators were able to determine exactly when and where each broke out of its bubble, and track its progress.

    innovations-report 2008

  • Using a unique test created at UTMB that adds a light-emitting molecular beacon, called luciferase, to Ebola viruses and the virus-like particles, the investigators were able to determine exactly when and where each broke out of its bubble, and track its progress.

    innovations-report 2008

  • Using a unique test created at UTMB that adds a light-emitting molecular beacon, called luciferase, to Ebola viruses and the virus-like particles, the investigators were able to determine exactly when and where each broke out of its bubble, and track its progress.

    innovations-report 2008

Comments

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  • "An enzyme present in the cells of bioluminescent organisms that catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin and ATP, producing light." per the AHD

    May 27, 2008

  • sounds evil

    April 29, 2016

  • See luciferin.

    Etymologies
    Latin lūciferlight-bringing; see Lucifer + -in.
    (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

    April 29, 2016

  • Sly fireflies will cook up new ways

    To brighten their luminous rays,

    For lightning bug lasses

    Like lads with bright asses

    Just bursting with luciferase.

    January 23, 2018