Y-chromosomal red-green opsin genes of nocturnal New World monkey

The X-chromosomal locality of the red-green-sensitive opsin genes has been the norm for all mammals and is essential for color vision of higher primates. Owl monkeys ( Aotus), a genus of New World monkeys, are the only nocturnal higher primates and are severely color-blind. We demonstrate that the o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEBS letters 2002-10, Vol.530 (1), p.70-72
Main Authors: Kawamura, Shoji, Takenaka, Naomi, Hiramatsu, Chihiro, Hirai, Momoki, Takenaka, Osamu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Aotus trivirgatus - genetics
Chromosome Mapping
Cloning, Molecular
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
Male
Molecular Sequence Data
Nocturnal vision
Opsin
Owl monkey ( Aotus trivirgatus)
Rod Opsins - genetics
Visual pigment
Y Chromosome
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Summary:The X-chromosomal locality of the red-green-sensitive opsin genes has been the norm for all mammals and is essential for color vision of higher primates. Owl monkeys ( Aotus), a genus of New World monkeys, are the only nocturnal higher primates and are severely color-blind. We demonstrate that the owl monkeys possess extra red-green opsin genes on the Y-chromosome. The Y-linked opsin genes were found to be extremely varied, in one male appearing to be a functional gene and in other males to be multicopy pseudogenes. These Y-linked opsin genes should offer a rare opportunity to study the evolutionary fate of genes translocated to the Y chromosome.
ISSN:0014-5793
1873-3468
DOI:10.1016/S0014-5793(02)03414-2