noun
- an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin, producing light in bioluminescent organisms
Usage: biochemistry
Examples
- Fireflies produce light through the action of luciferase on luciferin.
- Scientists use luciferase as a reporter gene in molecular biology experiments.
- The luciferase enzyme is responsible for the glow of many marine organisms.
- Researchers extracted luciferase from jellyfish to study bioluminescence.
- The luciferase reaction requires ATP and oxygen to produce light.
- Bioluminescent bacteria contain luciferase that makes them glow in the dark.