Coexpression of Two Visual Pigments in a Photoreceptor Causes an Abnormally Broad Spectral Sensitivity in the Eye of the ButterflyPapilio xuthus

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.23-11-04527.2003
• Publication Date: 2018-04-13T22:30:28Z
• Authors: Kentaro Arikawa; Shin Mizuno; Michiyo Kinoshita; Doekele G. Stavenga
• Keywords: Ommatidium; Visual phototransduction; Spectral sensitivity; Opsin; Visual pigments; Retinal pigments

The compound eye of the butterfly Papilio xuthus consists three different types ommatidia, each containing nine photoreceptor cells (R1-R9). We have found previously that R5-R8 photoreceptors type II ommatidia coexpress two mRNAs, encoding opsins green- and orange-red-absorbing visual pigments (Kitamoto et al., 1998). Do these contain functionally distinct pigments? First, we identified sensitivity spectrum by using combined intracellular recording dye injection. thus a characteristic extending over an excessively broad spectral range, from violet to red region; are therefore termed broadband photoreceptors. shape was interpreted with computational model for UV pigment in R1 R2, green R3 R4, far-UV-absorbing screening (3-hydroxyretinol) distal part ommatidium, red-screening surrounds rhabdom. modeling suggests both participate phototransduction. This work provides first compelling evidence multiple phototransduction single invertebrate