Parietal-eye phototransduction components and their potential evolutionary implications

Chih Ying Su, Dong Gen Luo, Akihisa Terakita, Yoshinori Shichida, Hsi Wen Liao, Manija A. Kazmi, Thomas P. Sakmar, King Wai Yau

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

85 Scopus citations

Abstract

The parietal-eye photoreceptor is unique because it has two antagonistic light signaling pathways in the same cell-a hyperpolarizing pathway maximally sensitive to blue light and a depolarizing pathway maximally sensitive to green light. Here, we report the molecular components of these two pathways. We found two opsins in the same cell: the blue-sensitive pinopsin and a previously unidentified green-sensitive opsin, which we name parietopsin. Signaling components included gustducin-α and Gαo, but not rod or cone transducin-α. Single-cell recordings demonstrated that Go mediates the depolarizing response. Gustducin-α resembles transducin-α functionally and likely mediates the hyperpolarizing response. The parietopsin-Go signaling pair provides clues about how rod and cone phototransduction might have evolved.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1617-1621
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume311
Issue number5767
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 17 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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