Proflavin and norharman induce luciferase synthesis under anaerobiosis

Abstract

Some strains of luminous bacteria produce much less luciferase when they are grown under anaerobic conditions.

In the presence of DNA-intercalating agents such as proflavin or norharman these strains form normal levels of luciferase in anaerobic cultures. Both constitutive and inducible strains of luminous bacteria show this phenomenon. Since anaerobically growing cells produce the autoinducer and remove the inhibitor of the luminous system as do the aerobically growing cells, it is postulated that luminous bacteria have at least one other genetic mechanism that controls the synthesis of the luciferase and is involved in its in vivo expression.