LUCIFERASE ENZYME CONCENTRATION AND MORPHOMETRIC OF THE LIGHT ORGAN OF MALE AND FEMALE Pteroptyx tener (COLEOPTERA: LAMPYRIDAE)
Abstract
Pteroptyx tener (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) has become the main attraction of the firefly ecotourism industry as only this species is able to produce perfect synchronize flashing in group in Malaysia. The lights produced was the result of a biochemical reaction of the luciferase enzyme in the light organ located at the ventral abdomen with males producing brighter flashing compared to females. This is due to males having larger light organs with thicker photogenic and reflector layer relative to females. The concentration of luciferase enzymes involved in the production of bioluminescence has never been reported for this species. Therefore, this study aims to determine the concentration of the luciferase enzyme in the light organs of P. tener male and female. Morphometric measurement of the light organ where luciferase enzyme was present was also done to see the differences and similarities between the morphology of the light organ of male and female P. tener. A total of 10 individuals P. tener male and female were collected from Kampung Kuantan, Selangor, Malaysia. Only the abdomen was taken and the quantification of the luciferase enzyme was determined by performing the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test. The concentration of luciferase enzyme found in male was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of female which was 6.03±0.48 ng/mL (n=10) in male and 2.94±0.27 ng/mL (n=10) in female. Perimeter size of the male light organ was 5.85±0.44 mm (n=10) and significantly larger (P<0.05) than perimeter size of female light organ 3.52±0.37 mm (n=10). The results of this study indicates that the larger organ size in male fireflies contains a higher concentration of luciferase enzyme compared to female fireflies that contributes to more intense illumination in male individuals. This information can be used to promote the uniqueness of this beetle in the firefly eco-tourism industry.
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