There are two main ways that bioluminescent reactions can occur. The first occurs when the ingredients are separate. The organism introduces the missing components in order for the bioluminescent reaction to occur and produce light. This is the most simplistic version of the reaction. Fireflies are thought to emit light in this way. In some special organisms, all the key components to the reaction are already present together in something called a photoprotein. This molecule contains the luciferin, luciferase, oxygen, and ATP. Certain ions, like calcium, trigger the molecule to mix the oxygen and luciferin and catalyze the reaction emitting light (1). Below is a diagram of what is happening in the oxidation of luciferin (1).
(1).
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