Bioluminescence in the limpet-like snail, Latia neritoides

Latia neritoides is a small limpet-like snail that produces a bright green bioluminescence; it is found only in New Zealand streams. The light-emitting system is unique. Although Latia bioluminescence has been studied since 1880, its mechanism is unclear. Shimomura and Johnson clarified the elements of the mechanism, including the structures of luciferin and luciferase, in 1968. However, neither the emitter nor the mechanism of the excited state of luciferin has been determined. We studied molecular mechanisms to clarify the characteristics of luciferin and luciferase and to produce a new application for this system.