Proper function of the Drosophila trp gene product during pupal development is important for normal visual transduction in the adult.
The response of invertebrate photoreceptors consists of the summation of quantum bumps, each representing the response to a single photon. The bumps adapt depending on the intensity of the stimulus: their average size is relatively large in dim light and small in bright light. The rate of occurrence of the bumps varies proportionally with light intensity. In the Drosophila mutant trp, unlike in the wild type, the rate does not increase with increasing light intensity and the bumps do not adapt. Here we report an analysis of the trp gene and its expression in normal and mutant flies. Our results suggest that the trp protein is a novel photoreceptor membrane-associated protein, that this protein is not required for the occurrence of bumps but is necessary for adaptation, and that proper function of the trp gene product during pupal development is important for normal visual transduction in the adult.
Wong
F
F
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612.
Schaefer
E L
EL
Roop
B C
BC
LaMendola
J N
JN
Johnson-Seaton
D
D
Shao
D
D
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015220:Calcium Channels; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D013696:Temperature; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels
D015220:Calcium Channels; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D019476:Insect Proteins; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels; C063169:trp protein, Drosophila; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA