The effect of CoA on the characteristic light decay of the firefly luciferase catalysed bioluminescence reaction was studied. At least part of the light decay is due to the luciferase catalysed formation of dehydroluciferyl-adenylate (L-AMP), a by-product that results from oxidation of luciferyl-adenylate (LH2-AMP), and is a powerful inhibitor of the bioluminescence reaction (IC50¼6nm).