The molecular basis for UV vision in birds: spectral characteristics, cDNA sequence and retinal localization of the UV-sensitive visual pigment of the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Microspectrophotometric (msp) studies have shown that the colour-vision system of many bird species is based on four pigments with absorption peaks in the red, green, blue and UV regions of the spectrum. The existence of a fourth pigment (UV) is the major difference between the trichromacy of humans...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical journal 1998-02, Vol.330 ( Pt 1) (1), p.541-547
Main Authors: Wilkie, S E, Vissers, P M, Das, D, Degrip, W J, Bowmaker, J K, Hunt, D M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Cloning, Molecular
DNA, Complementary - genetics
Genes
In Situ Hybridization
Membrane Proteins - chemistry
Molecular Sequence Data
Parakeets - physiology
Phylogeny
Recombinant Proteins
Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells - physiology
Rod Opsins - physiology
Spectrum Analysis
Ultraviolet Rays
Vision, Ocular - physiology
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Summary:Microspectrophotometric (msp) studies have shown that the colour-vision system of many bird species is based on four pigments with absorption peaks in the red, green, blue and UV regions of the spectrum. The existence of a fourth pigment (UV) is the major difference between the trichromacy of humans and the tetrachromacy of such birds, and recent studies have shown that it may play a determining role in such diverse aspects of behaviour as mate selection and detection of food. Avian visual pigments are composed of an opsin protein covalently bound via a Schiff-base linkage to the chromophore 11-cis-retinal. Here we report the cDNA sequence of a UV opsin isolated from an avian species, Melopsittacus undulatus (budgerigar or small parakeet). This sequence has been expressed using the recombinant baculovirus system; the pigment generated from the expressed protein on addition of 11-cis-retinal yielded an absorption spectrum typical of a UV photopigment, with lambdamax 365+/-3 nm. This is the first UV opsin from an avian species to be sequenced and expressed in a heterologous system. In situ hybridization of this sequence to budgerigar retinas selectively labelled a sub-set of UV cones, representing approx. 9% of the total cone population, that are distributed in a semi-regular pattern across the entire retina.
ISSN:0264-6021
1470-8728
DOI:10.1042/bj3300541