1279 
He experimented particularly with the luminous sipho-slime of Pholas 
dactylus and calls the enzyme, he thinks he has found “luciferase” 
and the unknown matter it acts upon “luciferine”. The latter 
substance corresponds to what is called an ‘“enzyme-substrate’’, but 
which might better be denominated ‘enzymoteel”’,*) the word 
“enzyme-substrate” being evidently equivocal. To prepare a luciferase 
solution, free from luciferine, he leaves the luminous mucus till it 
becomes dark. He makes a solution of luciferine, free from luciferase, 
by slightly heating the mucus whereby the luciferase is destroyed. 
By mixing the two dark solutions light is evolved, from which he 
concludes that the luciferase acts as a catalysator similarly as other 
enzymes. The luminous slime consists of the cell-content of peculiar 
glands of the epiderm and flows from the cell through a fine canal; 
it seems not impossible that it contains protoplasm. 
Various other sea animals as some Annelides, Cephalopodes and 
Coelenterates likewise secrete a luminous slime, which spreading in 
the sea-water illumines the surroundings of the animal. 
E. Newron Harvey has examined the phosphorescence of insects 
and comes to the same results as Dusors, but he calls the related 
substances ‘“‘photogenine” and ‘‘photopheleine’’.*) It is also easy to 
show that the phosphorescent cells of our glow-worms, after mecha- 
nical destruction do not loose their luminosity. But these facts cannot 
be considered as proving incontestably the accuracy of the enzyme 
theory, it not being impossible that in all these cases not yet 
destroyed protoplasm is still active. 
A better evidence for the view that the bearer of the phosphor- 
escence consists of one or more endoenzymes is to be derived from 
the luminous bacteria. Here the production of light is inseparably 
bound to the bacterial body and secretion of a luminous slime never 
occurs.*) If thus there is question here of an enzyme as cause of 
the phosphorescence it can only be an endoenzyme, and that this 
supposition is in accordance with the facts may be shown by ex- 
posing the luminous bacteria to the influence of ultra-violet light. 
It is namely possible by means of the light of a quartzlamp, to bring 
them into the necrobiotic state, wherein they have lost their power 
of reproduction, but preserved their phosphorescence. *) If the time of 
the radiation is well chosen, the necrobiotic condition may last for 
') Of “telos”; aim. 
2) Science N. S. T. 44, Pag. 208, 440, 652, 1916. 
5) The slimy matter produced by some kinds of luminous bacteria is non-phos- 
phorescent cell-wall substance. 
*) For the particulars of this experiment see Folia microbiologica, Bd. 4, Pag. 10, 
15. 
