BBC News (June 2001): Scientists Find Firefly Switch

BBC News | SCI/TECH | Scientists find firefly 'switch' Page 1 of 3

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A female firefly prepares to tuck into a meal See also: Scientists have found the "switch" that allows 19 Jul 00 | Sci/Tech Parasite's web of death a firefly to light up its body. 21 Oct 99 | Sci/Tech Insects use lesbian ruse The beetle flashes the 17 Aug 99 | Sci/Tech "lantern" on its We now have the Bull's-eye beetle abdomen to attract a missing piece of the 05 Nov 99 | Sci/Tech mate. Researchers have puzzle 100-eyed bug surprises scientists long understood how the light is generated Internet links: Barry Trimmer, but the control Tufts University Fireflies - Tufts mechanism used by the Science insect has been a mystery. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Now, a US team has been able to show that internet sites the simple molecule nitric oxide (NO) acts as the on-off "button". Top Sci/Tech stories now: Astronomy's next big It is just one more example of the prominent thing role played by NO in biochemistry. In humans, Ancient rock points to the molecule is crucial to the dilation of blood life's origin vessels and the signalling that goes on Mobile spam on the rise between neurons in the brain. Giant telescope project gets boost Its part in assisting men achieve erection has New hope for Aids been exploited by the modern impotence vaccine drugs like Viagra. Replace your mouse with your eye Device could detect Reacting chemicals overdose drugs Wireless internet arrives To understand the role NO plays in fireflies, in China Barry Trimmer, from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, and colleagues Links to more Sci/Tech studied the insects in tiny custom-designed stories are at the foot of chambers. the page.

Whenever the fireflies were exposed to nitric oxide they glowed or flashed almost continuously, and they stopped once the nitric BBC News | SCI/TECH | Scientists find firefly 'switch' Page 2 of 3

oxide was turned off.

More detailed work demonstrates how the fireflies produce their own nitric oxide in cells that line the ends of the air tubes in their lanterns.

The molecule causes oxygen-consuming components on the edge of light-producing The flashes are used to cells in the lantern to attract a mate briefly shut down. This allows oxygen to pass through to the interior of the cells and react with the chemicals luceriferin and luciferase to generate a flash.

When the NO is turned off, the oxygen "gatekeepers" started up again and the light disappears. The whole thing happens in milliseconds.

Short romance

"We knew about the chemistry that makes fireflies light up," Barry Trimmer said, "but we now have the missing piece of the puzzle that explains how they are able to throw the switch on and off."

Many animals, including jellyfish and bacteria, use bioluminescence to communicate. "However," co- researcher and a Tufts University firefly expert Sara Lewis said, "The firefly's talent for producing precisely

timed, rapid bursts of The fireflies were studied in light is quite rare." small chambers

This ability has allowed fireflies to evolve an elaborate courtship system based on flash communication.

Males blink a certain sequence and hope to see an answering flash from a female. Each of the 200 or so species of firefly have their own signal. BBC News | SCI/TECH | Scientists find firefly 'switch' Page 3 of 3

The insects live for two years as larvae, eating worms in

theIntroducing NO to the soil,chambers made the insects andglow for just two weeks as adults - enjoying just 14 nights of flying, flashing and courtship. Then it is all over.

"For them, it is a very short, intense time," Lewis said.

The firefly research is published in the journal Science.

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