Origin and biosynthesis of coelenterazine

The luciferin coelenterazine is the most widely occurring luciferin in marine bioluminescence. The widespread utilization of this molecule can be explained by its presence in marine food chains, yet it is unknown which species can synthesize it. We have sequenced transcriptomes of luminous marine organisms to identify the origin and biosynthetic pathway of coelenterazine, for studies of evolution and potential use in medical applications.