Dietary maintenance of bioluminescence in a deep-sea mysid

Abstract

Dietary acquisition of the specific constituents of bioluminescent systems, frequently suggested for various midwater organisms (Haneda, Johnson & Shimomura, 1966; Shimomura, Inoue, Johnson & Haneda, 1980; McCapra & Hart, 1980), has been demonstrated experimentally only in the batrachoidid fish, Porichthys notatus. The luciferins and luciferases of Porichthys and the ostracod Vargula (= Cypridina) hilgendorfii cross-react, suggesting structural similarity (Cormier, Crane & Nakano, 1967; Tsuji, Haneda, Lynch & Sugiyama, 1971). Normally, non-luminescent Porichthys from Puget Sound luminesce after injection of V. hilgendorfii luciferin or feeding with dried V. hilgendorfii (Tsuji, Barnes & Case, 1972; Barnes, Case & Tsuji, 1973) or V. tsujii (Warner & Case, 1980). Specific dietary maintenance of bioluminescence has also been suggested for bioluminescent crustaceans. Shimomura et al. (1980) found large amounts of luciferin in the digestive tracts of various shrimps, and suggested that their luminescence had dietary origins.