Lumirhodopsis is a protein (parenchymal globomeric proteinase) that cleaves the bridging peptide group from the internal part of the globulin, which results in luminescence. This protein is a photoreceptor and is involved in phototransduction, also participating in light, dark and cycling potentials in fungi. It is also a very important protein in the nematode (worm) Caenorhabditis elegans.
It was first discovered in the retinal tissue of a starfish in 1966, thanks to the Dutch chemist Jacob Jans. Jans and his colleagues interpreted its structure as a protein that gives the fish's retina a green hue, similar to natural light. Therefore, this light was called lumirodoran of light. In the late 60s, the phosphor was isolated and purified. Although most taxa do not possess this receptor.