Photoreceptor-specific efficiencies of β-carotene, zeaxanthin and lutein for photopigment formation deduced from receptor mutant Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila rearing media had only beta -carotene, zeaxanthin or lutein as precursors for photopigment chromophores. Zeaxanthin and lutein are potentially optimum sources of the 3-hydroxylated retinoids of visual and accessory photopigments. Mutants made the electroretinogram in white (w) eyes select...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Comparative Physiology, A A, 1990-01, Vol.166 (4), p.429-436
Main Authors: STARK, W. S, SCHILLY, D, CHRISTIANSON, J. S, BONE, R. A, LANDRUM, J. T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology
Biological and medical sciences
Diptera
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophilidae
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Insecta
Invertebrates
Physiology. Development
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Summary:Drosophila rearing media had only beta -carotene, zeaxanthin or lutein as precursors for photopigment chromophores. Zeaxanthin and lutein are potentially optimum sources of the 3-hydroxylated retinoids of visual and accessory photopigments. Mutants made the electroretinogram in white (w) eyes selective for compound eye photoreceptors R1-6, R7 and R8: R1-6 domiantes w's electroretinogram; R7/8 generates w; ora's (ora = outer rhabdomeres absent); R8 generates w sev; -ora's (sev = sevenless). Microspectrophotometry revealed R1-6's visual pigment. In w, all 3 carotenoids yielded monotonic dose-responses for sensitivity or visual pigment. An ultraviolet sensitivity peak from R1-6's sensitizing pigment was present at high but not low doses. In w; ora, all 3 carotenoids gave similar spectra dominated by R7's high ultraviolet sensitivity.
ISSN:0340-7594
1432-1351
DOI:10.1007/BF00192014