title: A rhodopsin gene expressed in photoreceptor cell R7 of the Drosophila eye: homologies with other signal-transducing molecules.
abstract: We have isolated an opsin gene from D. melanogaster that is expressed in the ultraviolet-sensitive photoreceptor cell R7 of the Drosophila compound eye. This opsin gene contains no introns and encodes a 383 amino acid polypeptide that is approximately 35% homologous to the blue absorbing ninaE and Rh2 opsins, which are expressed in photoreceptor cells R1-6 and R8, respectively. Amino acid homologies between these different opsins and other signal-transducing molecules suggest an important role for the conserved domains of rhodopsin in the transduction of extracellular signals.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D005796:Genes; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011061:Poly A / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000235:genetics*; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012168:Retinal Pigments; D011061:Poly A; D012313:RNA; D012243:Rhodopsin