A Proposed Mechanism for Bioluminescence in Dinoflagellates (IMAGE)

U.S. National Science Foundation

A Proposed Mechanism for Bioluminescence in Dinoflagellates

Caption

When a dinoflagellate is mechanically agitated, an electrical impulse travels around its vacuole membrane. This impulse opens up proton channels that allow protons to flow from the vacuole into the scintillons, where they activate light-emitting luciferase proteins. The result: A flash of light.

Credit

Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation

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