Sea pansy

Renilla reniformis

Renilla reniformis is an entity belonging to the order of sea pens Oktokorallenart. It has a sheet-like appearance. Characteristic of Renilla reniformis is the ability to produce light ( bioluminescence ).

Construction

A colony of Renilla reniformis is constructed from polyps of different shapes and functions. The stem is provided by a single, giant polyps ( Oozooid ). The leaf - or flower- shaped body carries on its upper surface numerous small feeding polyps ( autozooids ). Loose tube tentacle polyps ( Siphonozooide ) form intake and exhaust valves, can be released or absorbed through the water.

Occurrence

Renilla reniformis can be found off the coast of North Carolina to Florida and ahead of Brazil. In contrast to the related genus Renilla mülleri it is not common in the Gulf of Mexico.

Lighting system

After a Renilla reniformis irritation is capable of bioluminescence. Their light-emitting system based on a luciferase, Renilla luciferase and a green fluorescent protein, the Renilla GFP. Renilla luciferase is the primary light source. It generates from its substrate coelenterazine under consumption of oxygen and elimination of carbon dioxide, a blue light. This radiation is transmitted freely over the Förster resonance energy transfer to Renilla GFP, which is responsible for the green glow of the sea pen. The lighting system of Renilla reniformis from the Renilla luciferase and the green fluorescent protein is also being used experimentally in biochemistry to detect protein -protein interactions.