| In most bioluminescent organisms, the essential light-emitting components are the oxidizable organic molecule luciferin and the enzyme luciferase, which are specific for different organisms. |
| A firefly's light is produced by a chemical reaction involving a special protein, a pigment called luciferin, and oxygen. |
| Mixing of droplets caused enzyme reaction, and luciferin luminesced. |
| When the pH drops, luciferase changes its shape, allowing luciferin, more specifically tetrapyrrole, to bind. |
| The firefly's chemical secret is a combination of air, water, and two diffusible thermostable compounds named luciferin and luciferase. |
| Instead of having freely available luciferin, they contain molecules called photoproteins which are, in effect, luciferin proteins that already have oxygen bound to them. |
