luciferin

English

Etymology

Latin lūcifer (“light bringer”) +‎ -in

Noun

luciferin (plural luciferins)

1. (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^[1]:

     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.”

Derived terms

• aminoluciferin
• luciferyl
• luciferase
• oxyluciferin

Translations

biochemistry: any of a class of polycyclic heterocycles

• Esperanto: luciferino
• Finnish: lusiferiini