Photosensitivity in sponge due to cytochrome c oxidase?

Abstract

An action spectrum for photosensitivity in sponge larvae published by Leys et al. [J. Comp. Physiol., A, 2002, 188, 199–202] was interpreted by the authors as being due to a combination of light absorption by flavin or carotenoid in the blue region, and another pigment such as pterin in the long-wavelength region. Here we show here that their action spectrum closely matches the absorption spectrum of reduced cytochrome c oxidase that is present in sponges, and compare with other photoreactions which are thought to be due to this chromoprotein.