Spectral tuning by opsin coexpression in retinal regions that view different parts of the visual field

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dc.contributor.authorDalton, Brian E.
dc.contributor.authorLoew, Ellis R.
dc.contributor.authorCronin, Thomas W.
dc.contributor.authorCarleton, Karen L.
dc.date.accessioned2019-04-11T18:42:25Z
dc.date.available2019-04-11T18:42:25Z
dc.date.issued2014-10-02
dc.description.abstractVision frequently mediates critical behaviours, and photoreceptors must respond to the light available to accomplish these tasks. Most photoreceptors are thought to contain a single visual pigment, an opsin protein bound to a chromophore, which together determine spectral sensitivity. Mechanisms of spectral tuning include altering the opsin, changing the chromophore and incorporating pre-receptor filtering. A few exceptions to the use of a single visual pigment have been documented inwhich a singlemature photoreceptor coexpresses opsins that form spectrally distinct visual pigments, and in these exceptions the functional significance of coexpression is unclear.Herewe document for the first time photoreceptors coexpressing spectrally distinct opsin genes in a manner that tunes sensitivity to the light environment. Photoreceptors of the cichlid fish, Metriaclima zebra, mix different pairs of opsins in retinal regions that view distinct backgrounds. The mixing of visual pigments increases absorbance of the corresponding background, potentially aiding the detection of dark objects. Thus, opsin coexpressionmay be a novel mechanism of spectral tuning that could be useful for detecting prey, predators and mates. However, our calculations show that coexpression of some opsins can hinder colour discrimination, creating a trade-off between visual functions.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was funded by NSF DDIG DEB-1011337 awarded to B.E.D. and T.W.C. and by IOS-0841270 to K.L.C.en_US
dc.description.urihttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4240992/en_US
dc.format.extent9 pagesen_US
dc.genrejournal articlesen_US
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/m2awtm-fm9v
dc.identifier.citationDalton BE, Loew ER, Cronin TW, Carleton KL. 2014 Spectral tuning by opsin coexpression in retinal regions that view different parts of the visual field. Proc. R. Soc. B 281: 20141980. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.1980en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.1980
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/13403
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherThe Royal Societyen_US
dc.relation.isAvailableAtThe University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Biological Sciences Department Collection
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Faculty Collection
dc.rightsThis item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.
dc.subjectopsin coexpressionen_US
dc.subjectspectral tuningen_US
dc.subjectconeen_US
dc.subjectphotoreceptoren_US
dc.subjectcichliden_US
dc.titleSpectral tuning by opsin coexpression in retinal regions that view different parts of the visual fielden_US
dc.typeTexten_US

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