Opsin expression in adult, developing, and regenerating newt retinas.
Japanese common newts (Cynops pyrrhogaster) have an ability to regenerate their neural retina even as adults. Although extensive research has been carried out attempting to understand this retinal regeneration, the molecules characterized in newt retina are limited. We isolated cDNAs encoding three putative opsins (Cp-Rh, -LWS and -SWS1), in addition to Cp-SWS2 [Takahashi et al., FEBS Lett. 501 (2001) 151-155] from a cDNA library of adult newt retina. Our immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies demonstrated that Cp-Rh is selectively expressed in rods, whereas the other opsins are expressed in cones. The distribution of opsin mRNAs in normal and regenerated retinas is very similar. In both developing and regenerating retinas, Cp-Rh and its mRNA first appeared in immature rods at the beginning or just after the formation of plexiform layers. Cp-Rh was initially found isotropically in the plasma membrane, and then translocalized to the apical region along with the maturation of regenerating rods. This suggests that reorganization of the intracellular structure takes place during maturation of the regenerating newt photoreceptors.
Sakakibara
Shunsuke
S
Department of Earth and Space Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1, Machikaneyama-chyo, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan.
Hiramatsu
Hidemasa
H
Takahashi
Yusuke
Y
Hisatomi
Osamu
O
Kobayashi
Yuko
Y
Sakami
Sanae
S
Saito
Takehiko
T
Tokunaga
Fumio
F
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D017299:Rod Opsins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012455:Salamandridae
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017299:Rod Opsins