Reflectin (nonfiction)

Reflectins are a family of intrinsically disordered proteins evolved by a certain number of cephalopods including Euprymna scolopes and Doryteuthis opalescens to produce iridescent camouflage and signaling. The recently identified protein family is enriched in aromatic and sulfur-containing amino acids, and is utilized by certain cephalopods to refract incident light in their environment. It is possible that reflectins are beta barrel type proteins. It is present in the iridophores and leucophores of cephalopods. There is evidence that the reflectin gene appeared in cephalopods due to a horizontal gene transfer with the marine bioluminescent bacterium, Aliivibrio fischeri.

Fiction cross-reference

• Crimes against chemical constants
• Gnomon algorithm
• Gnomon Chronicles

Nonfiction cross-reference

• Intrinsically disordered proteins (nonfiction) - a protein that lacks a fixed or ordered three-dimensional structure. IDPs cover a spectrum of states from fully unstructured to partially structured and include random coils, (pre-)molten globules, and large multi-domain proteins connected by flexible linkers. They constitute one of the main types of protein (alongside globular, fibrous and membrane proteins).

• Reflectin @ Wikipedia
• A marvelous molecular machine @