Firefly luciferin is the luciferin, or light-emitting compound, found in many firefly (Lampyridae) species. It is the substrate of luciferase (EC 1.13.12.7), which is responsible for the characteristic yellow light emission from many firefly species. As with all other luciferins, oxygen is required to elicit light; however, it has also been found that ATP and magnesium are required for light emission.
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Famous quotes containing the word firefly:
“Unto a life which I call natural I would gladly follow even a will-o’-the-wisp through bogs and sloughs unimaginable, but no moon nor firefly has shown me the causeway to it.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)