In FCH430 Biochemistry I, students work in groups to develop a compelling pitch that their enzyme, chosen from a list of nominees, is the Coolest Enzyme. Enzyme pitches are made as an end-of-semester poster session, where the audience votes for the Coolest Enzyme. The Coolest Enzyme will become the SUNY ESF Enzyme of the Year for that year.

Dinoflagellate luciferase is an enzyme found in dinoflagellates, the dominant source of bioluminescence in coastal waters. Luciferase catalyzes the oxidation of the molecule luciferin, producing an excited compound that then emits visible light as it returns to its ground state. The enzyme's activity is pH-dependent. At low pH, protonation of histidine residues trigger a conformational change that allows the luciferin substrate to bind to the active site.