photoprotein

photoprotein, in biochemistry, any of several proteins that give off light upon combination with oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, or other oxidizing agents. Unlike the oxidation of luciferin, the production of light by a photoprotein requires no catalyst. Such a system occurs in Aequorea, a luminescent jellyfish, in which the single organic chemical aequorin requires calcium or strontium ions for luminescence to occur. See also bioluminescence.