Carotenoid replacement therapy in Drosophila: recovery of membrane, opsin and visual pigment.
Rhabdomeres are substantially smaller and visual pigment is nearly eliminated when Drosophila are carotenoid-deprived from egg to adult. Rhabdomeres enlarge and visual pigment increases with carotenoid replacement in adults using carrot juice. We used a monoclonal antibody to the opsin in R1-6 receptors in the compound eye to further quantify opsin recovery in such carotenoid replacement therapy. Density of immunogold, specific to R1-6 (vs. R7), increases between days 1 and 3 of replacement as visual pigment and rhabdomeres recover. In summary, visual pigment, opsin and the opsin-containing organelle recover during carotenoid replacement therapy in carotenoid-deprived Drosophila.
Sapp
R J
RJ
Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
Christianson
J S
JS
Maier
L
L
Studer
K
K
Stark
W S
WS
D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000032:analysis; D017299:Rod Opsins; D013997:Time Factors
D005136:Eye Proteins; D012168:Retinal Pigments; D017299:Rod Opsins; D002338:Carotenoids