C11H8N3O2S2

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Firefly luciferin \Fire"fly` lu*cif"er*in\, n. (Biochem.)
     a type of {luciferin} produced by the firefly {Photinus
     pyralis}.
  
     Note: Its structure has been elucidated, and chemically it is
           recognized as


  
           4,5-Dihydro-2-(6-hydroxy-2-benzothiazol-2-yl)-4-thiazolecarboxylic
           acid, {C11H8N3O2S2}. It has found use in a very
           sensitive assay for ATP, in which concentrations of ATP
           as low as 10^{-11} molar can be detected. --[MI11]
           [PJC]