title: Ectopic expression of a minor Drosophila opsin in the major photoreceptor cell class: distinguishing the role of primary receptor and cellular context.
abstract: We have used P-element-mediated transformation to introduce the cloned Rh1 rhodopsin gene into the germ line of Drosophila and fully rescue the visual phenotype of mutant ninaE flies. A transcriptional fusion between the ninaE promoter and the structural gene for a minor opsin (Rh2) that is not normally expressed in the R1-R6 photoreceptor cells was used to demonstrate that Rh2 rhodopsin can photoactivate the R1-R6 transduction cascade, but with different spectral sensitivity. In addition, we show that two mutants that specifically affect the R1-R6 cells, ninaA and rdgB, do not directly affect expression of the ninaE gene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Zuker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mismer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rubin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000235:genetics*; D017299:Rod Opsins; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; D012168:Retinal Pigments; D017299:Rod Opsins; D004247:DNA; D012243:Rhodopsin