Photobacterium phosphoreum Bioluminescent bacterium – a tiny light in the deep
Even in the deepest parts of the ocean, where no sunlight reaches, light can still be found. Photobacterium phosphoreum makes this possible. This bacterium lives in symbiosis with fish and other sea creatures, producing a soft blue-green glow. A microbe that quite literally brings light to the dark.
Bioluminescent chemistry
P. phosphoreum contains a remarkable enzyme: luciferase. When this enzyme reacts with oxygen and the molecule luciferin, it produces light. This process is called bioluminescence. While fireflies are a well-known example, in the ocean it’s often bacteria like these that steal the show.
No sunlight, yet still illumination – thanks to microscopic chemistry.
Clever cooperation
This bacterium doesn’t just float freely in the sea – it lives on other animals. The anglerfish carries P. phosphoreum at the tip of its ‘fishing rod’, using it as a lure for prey. Lanternfish also make clever use of this microbe: they have glowing pouches filled with P. phosphoreum, which they use to communicate in the dark. A bacterium as a torch, a trap, and a messenger – all rolled into one.
Want to learn more about microbes?
Curious to see this glowing life form up close? At ARTIS-Micropia, you can observe Photobacterium phosphoreum for yourself. Discover how microbes make life in the dark possible, work together with animals, and bring the deep sea to life.