Visual phototransduction components in cephalopod chromatophores suggest dermal photoreception
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Author/Creator ORCID
Date
2015-04-08
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Citation of Original Publication
Alexandra C. N. Kingston, et.al, Visual phototransduction components in cephalopod chromatophores suggest dermal photoreception, The Journal of Experimental Biology (2015) 218, 1596-1602 doi:10.1242/jeb.117945
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Abstract
Cephalopodmollusks are renowned for their colorful and dynamic body
patterns, produced by an assemblage of skin components that interact
with light.Thesemay include iridophores, leucophores, chromatophores
and (in some species) photophores. Here, we present molecular
evidence suggesting that cephalopod chromatophores – small dermal
pigmentary organs that reflect various colors of light – are photosensitive.
RT-PCR revealed the presence of transcripts encoding
rhodopsin and retinochrome within the retinas and skin of the squid
Doryteuthis pealeii, and the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis and Sepia
latimanus. In D. pealeii, Gqα and squid TRP channel transcripts were
present in theretina andinalldermal samples.Rhodopsin, retinochrome
and Gqα transcripts were also found in RNA extracts from dissociated
chromatophores isolated from D. pealeii dermal tissues. Immunohistochemical
staining labeled rhodopsin, retinochrome and Gqα
proteins in several chromatophore components, including pigment cell
membranes, radial muscle fibers, and sheath cells. This is the first
evidence that cephalopod dermal tissues, and specifically chromatophores,
may possess the requisite combination ofmolecules required to
respond to light.