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Summary: Xenorhabdus luminescens is a terrestrial bacterium that occurs as a symbiont of soil nematodes, and has also been isolated from human wounds. Unlike the several species of marine bioluminescent bacteria, X. luminescens has been discovered to grow in an atmosphere of 100% oxygen. Under these conditions the in vivo bioluminescence is greater, and this can be attributed in part to an increased synthesis of luciferase. At the same time, cells also produce superoxide dismutase (SOD), whose activity is also increased after growth in 100% oxygen. The patterns of induction suggest that the two enzymes are co-regulated; possible evolutionary relationships are considered.
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