luciferin

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English[edit]

English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Etymology[edit]

Latin lūcifer (light bringer) +‎ -in

Noun[edit]

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.”

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