Coelenteramide Explained

Coelenteramide is the oxidized product, or oxyluciferin, of the bioluminescent reactions in many marine organisms that use coelenterazine. It was first isolated as a blue fluorescent protein from Aequorea victoria after the animals were stimulated to emit light.^[1] Under basic conditions, the compound will break down further into coelenteramine and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid.

It is an aminopyrazine.^[2]

Notes and References

1. 10.1073/pnas.72.4.1546 . Shimomura O, Johnson FH . Chemical Nature of Bioluminescence Systems in Coelenterates . PNAS USA . 72 . 1546–1549 . 1975 . 236561 . 4 . 432574. free .
2. Discovery and Validation of a New Family of Antioxidants: The Aminopyrazine Derivatives. M. L. N. Dubuisson, J.-F. Rees and J. Marchand-Brynaert, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, 2004, 4, 159-165,