ACTIVATION OF LUCIGENIN CHEMILUMINESCENCE BY SERRATIA MARCESCENS

Abstract Cell–free extracts and intact cells of Serratia marcescens were found to activate lucigenin (10,10 ‐dimethy1‐9,9‐biacridylium nitrate) chemiluminescence in the absence of either added H2O2 or alkali. Light emission proceeded in alcoholic solvents and, in general, the intensity decreased with increasing length of the alcoholic carbon chain. Th e intensity of bacterially activated lucigenin chemiluminescence increased in a logarithmic linear manner with increasing methanol concentrations, maximum intensities occurring with 90% methanol. Other organic lucigenin solvents also supported the bacterially activated light emission process, although not to the same extent as 90% methanol. The addition of KOH to methanol failed to enhance chemiluminescence. The luminescent process was charaterized by the attainment of peak light emission three seconds after the initiation of the reaction, followed by rapid decay to a low constant light level. The bacterial activation of lucigening chemiluminescence was found to be enhanced by the inclusion by the inclusion of fluorescein in the neutral methanol solvent.