OPSINS FROM THE LATERAL EYES AND OCELLI OF THE HORSESHOE-CRAB, LIMULUS-POLYPHEMUS

Citation
Wc. Smith et al., OPSINS FROM THE LATERAL EYES AND OCELLI OF THE HORSESHOE-CRAB, LIMULUS-POLYPHEMUS, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United Statesof America, 90(13), 1993, pp. 6150-6154
Citations number
41
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary Sciences
ISSN journal
00278424
Volume
90
Issue
13
Year of publication
1993
Pages
6150 - 6154
Database
ISI
SICI code
0027-8424(1993)90:13<6150:OFTLEA>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
cDNA clones encoding opsins from the lateral eyes and median ocelli of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, were isolated from cDNA libra ries. The opsin cDNAs obtained from the lateral eye and ocellar librar ies code for deduced proteins with 376 amino acids. The two cDNAs are 96% identical at the nucleic acid level, differing primarily at the 3' untranslated region, and are apparently the products of two separate genes. The deduced opsin proteins are 99% identical to each other, dif fering at only 5 amino acids. The opsins encoded by these cDNAs are mo st likely the protein moiety of the visible-wavelength rhodopsins in t his animal. In the lateral eye, expression of the opsin gene is restri cted to the photoreceptor cells of the ommatidia. Comparisons with ops ins of other species show that the Limulus opsin proteins are most sim ilar (53% identity) to the opsin from the R1-6 photoreceptors of flies .