Abstract
Melanopsin is a vertebrate non-visual opsin and functions as a circadian photoreceptor in mammalian retinas. Here we found the expression of two kinds of melanopsin genes in the chicken pineal gland and identified the presence of five isoforms derived from these two genes. Reconstitution of the recombinant proteins with 11-cis-retinal revealed that at least two of these melanopsin protein isoforms can function as blue-sensitive photopigments with absorption maxima at 476-484nm. These values are consistent with maximal sensitivities of action spectra determined from the physiological and behavioral studies on mammalian melanopsins. The melanopsin isoforms found in this study may function as pineal circadian photoreceptors.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Chickens / genetics*
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Chickens / metabolism*
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Circadian Rhythm
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DNA Primers / genetics
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DNA, Complementary / genetics
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DNA, Complementary / isolation & purification
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Gene Expression
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Male
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Photobiology
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Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / metabolism
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Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / radiation effects
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Phylogeny
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Pineal Gland / metabolism
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Protein Isoforms / genetics
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Protein Isoforms / metabolism
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Protein Isoforms / radiation effects
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Recombinant Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
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Recombinant Proteins / radiation effects
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Rod Opsins / genetics*
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Rod Opsins / metabolism
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Rod Opsins / radiation effects*
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Spectrophotometry
Substances
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DNA Primers
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DNA, Complementary
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Protein Isoforms
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Recombinant Proteins
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Rod Opsins
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melanopsin