Meanings
- The mechanism for particulate-based bioluminescence.
The proton influx from the acidic vacuole to the dense body of the scintillon thus triggers the flash.
1992, United States. Office of Naval Research, Naval research reviews - Volumes 44-45, page 273 more examples
There are two separately isolatable systems: the particulate (scintillon) system and the soluble system.
1970, Per Halldal, Photobiology of Microorganisms, page 436Schematic representation of scintillon structure and localization, along with the proposed mechanism for triggering the bioluminescent flash of Gonyaulax.
1990, Journal of Cell Science - Volume 95, Issues 1-4, page 322LBP binds luciferin at pH 8.0 but not at pH 6.3 (10); upon acidification of the scintillon, the luciferin is therefore released for reaction with an activated LCF.
2005, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States
Origin
Cite this entry
scintillon. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scintillon
“scintillon.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scintillon. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “scintillon,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scintillon.
Source: scintillon on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.