title: Opsin gene and photopigment polymorphism in a prosimian primate.
abstract: A recent genetic investigation found some species of prosimian to have an opsin gene polymorphism [Nature 402 (1999) 36]. In the present study the functional implications of this finding were explored in a correlated investigation of opsin genes and spectral sensitivity measurements of a diurnal prosimian, Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi coquereli). Spectra recorded using electroretinogram (ERG) flicker photometry reveal a cone photopigment polymorphism paralleling an opsin gene polymorphism detected by molecular methods. This species has two middle-to-long-wavelength cone pigments with peak sensitivities of about 545 and 558 nm and a short-wavelength-sensitive cone with a peak at about 430 nm. The distribution of these pigments among animals predicts the presence of both dichromatic and trichromatic forms of color vision.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. jacobs@psych.ucsb.edu
authors.forename: Gerald H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Jess F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Deegan
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Wen Hsiung
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006579:Heterozygote; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000502:physiology*; D017299:Rod Opsins / Q000502:physiology; D011443:Strepsirhini / Q000502:physiology*; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments; D017299:Rod Opsins