Parietal-eye phototransduction components and their potential evolutionary implications

Science. 2006 Mar 17;311(5767):1617-21. doi: 10.1126/science.1123802.

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-alpha and Galphao, but not rod or cone transducin-alpha. Single-cell recordings demonstrated that Go mediates the depolarizing response. Gustducin-alpha resembles transducin-alpha functionally and likely mediates the hyperpolarizing response. The parietopsin-Go signaling pair provides clues about how rod and cone phototransduction might have evolved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits / physiology
  • Humans
  • Lizards / genetics
  • Lizards / physiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Ocular Physiological Phenomena*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / chemistry
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / physiology*
  • Rod Opsins / analysis
  • Rod Opsins / genetics
  • Rod Opsins / physiology*
  • Transducin / genetics
  • Transducin / physiology
  • Vision, Ocular*

Substances

  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits
  • Rod Opsins
  • 3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases
  • Transducin
  • Cyclic GMP