THE PRIMARY STRUCTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF KILLIFISH VISUAL PIGMENTS

Five cDNA fragments (KFH-R, -V, -G, -B and -Rh) encoding the putative visual pigments of killifish were isolated and sequenced. Judging from the deduced amino acid sequences, each cDNA falls into a different gr oup of the five major families of vertebrate visual pigment genes. lit situ hybridization localized the mRNA of KFH-R and -G to the principl e and accessory members, respectively, of double cones, Visual pigment genes KFH-Rh, -B and -V were expressed in the rods, and the long and short single cones, respectively, It is suggested that the relationshi ps between the cell types and their respective visual pigment gene gro ups may be a common pattern among teleost fishes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd.