Drosophila visual transduction

Montell, Craig

doi:10.1016/j.tins.2012.03.004

Cited by 192 publications

(213 citation statements)

References 99 publications

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“…Analysis of the MS/MS data using the MASCOT software yielded the identification of two proteins involved in the fly visual-signaling pathway: Retinal DeGeneration A (RDGA) in the dark and Neither Inactivation Nor Afterpotential C (NINAC) after 15 min of light pulse ( Fig. S2A) (18,20). Although RDGA was identified on the basis of the MS/ MS spectra of six different tryptic peptides, in the case of NINAC, the identification was based on the MS/MS spectrum of only one peptide displaying a significant score in MASCOT (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Retinal photoreception in mammals includes a subset of retinal ganglion cells that are able to respond to light even in the absence of synaptic inputs (42). These cells, called "intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells" (ipRGCs), use melanopsin as photopigment and send their axons directly to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the site of the primary circadian pacemaker in mammals (18,41). ipGRCs have been shown to use a rhabdomeric-like phosphoinositide cascade involving the effector enzyme PLC (18,41).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We detected the presence of dCRY in a multiprotein complex (the Signalplex) involved in the visual-signaling pathway (18), and we found that the interaction with this comlex is mediated by Inactivation No Afterpotential D (INAD), a scaffold protein with five structural PDZ domains. Moreover, we detected a role for dCRY in fly vision.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Fly cryptochrome and the visual system

Mazzotta

Rossi

Leonardi

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Cryptochromes are flavoproteins, structurally and evolutionarily related to photolyases, that are involved in the development, magnetoreception, and temporal organization of a variety of organisms. Drosophila CRYPTOCHROME (dCRY) is involved in light synchronization of the master circadian clock, and its C terminus plays an important role in modulating light sensitivity and activity of the protein. The activation of dCRY by light requires a conformational change, but it has been suggested that activation could be mediated also by specific "regulators" that bind the C terminus of the protein. This C-terminal region harbors several protein-protein interaction motifs, likely relevant for signal transduction regulation. Here, we show that some functional linear motifs are evolutionarily conserved in the C terminus of cryptochromes and that class III PDZ-binding sites are selectively maintained in animals. A coimmunoprecipitation assay followed by mass spectrometry analysis revealed that dCRY interacts with Retinal Degeneration A (RDGA) and with Neither Inactivation Nor Afterpotential C (NINAC) proteins. Both proteins belong to a multiprotein complex (the Signalplex) that includes visualsignaling molecules. Using bioinformatic and molecular approaches, dCRY was found to interact with Neither Inactivation Nor Afterpotential C through Inactivation No Afterpotential D (INAD) in a light-dependent manner and that the CRY-Inactivation No Afterpotential D interaction is mediated by specific domains of the two proteins and involves the CRY C terminus. Moreover, an impairment of the visual behavior was observed in fly mutants for dCRY, indicative of a role, direct or indirect, for this photoreceptor in fly vision.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fly cryptochrome and the visual system

Mazzotta

Rossi

Leonardi

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Evidence that TRPV-type ion channels mediate effects of endocannabinoids in the nervous system of the leech H. medicinalis [127] points to these proteins as potential endocannabinoid receptors in arthropods. It is noteworthy that the prototype for the TRP ion channel family was first discovered in Drosophila as a result of molecular analysis of the transient receptor potential (trp) mutant that has a defective phototransduction mechanism [136]. Interestingly, analysis of phototransduction in Drosophila has revealed similarities with mechanisms of 2-AG biosynthesis.…”

Section: Review Evolution and Comparative Neurobiology M R Elphickmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Drosophila DAGL mutant (inaE) is defective in photoreceptor responses to light, and a DAG metabolite is thought to mediate phototransduction by activating TRP and/or TRP-like (TRPL) ion channels [137]. However, the identity of the DAG metabolite that binds to and activates the TRP/TRPL phototransduction channels is not known, although there is evidence that it may be a PUFA [136]. This suggests the existence and activity of a MAGL in the phototransduction pathway, but one has yet to be identified.…”

Section: Review Evolution and Comparative Neurobiology M R Elphickmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution and comparative neurobiology of endocannabinoid signalling

Elphick

2012

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

151

137

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CB 1 -and CB 2 -type cannabinoid receptors mediate effects of the endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide in mammals. In canonical endocannabinoid-mediated synaptic plasticity, 2-AG is generated postsynaptically by diacylglycerol lipase alpha and acts via presynaptic CB 1 -type cannabinoid receptors to inhibit neurotransmitter release. Electrophysiological studies on lampreys indicate that this retrograde signalling mechanism occurs throughout the vertebrates, whereas system-level studies point to conserved roles for endocannabinoid signalling in neural mechanisms of learning and control of locomotor activity and feeding. CB 1 /CB 2 -type receptors originated in a common ancestor of extant chordates, and in the sea squirt Ciona intestinalis a CB 1 / CB 2 -type receptor is targeted to axons, indicative of an ancient role for cannabinoid receptors as axonal regulators of neuronal signalling. Although CB 1 /CB 2 -type receptors are unique to chordates, enzymes involved in biosynthesis/inactivation of endocannabinoids occur throughout the animal kingdom. Accordingly, non-CB 1 /CB 2 -mediated mechanisms of endocannabinoid signalling have been postulated. For example, there is evidence that 2-AG mediates retrograde signalling at synapses in the nervous system of the leech Hirudo medicinalis by activating presynaptic transient receptor potential vanilloid-type ion channels. Thus, postsynaptic synthesis of 2-AG or anandamide may be a phylogenetically widespread phenomenon, and a variety of proteins may have evolved as presynaptic (or postsynaptic) receptors for endocannabinoids.

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Conflicting Requirements for Transparency and Mechanical Stability in the Compound Eyes of Desert Locusts

Rajabi

Gorb

2022

Adv Materials Inter

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of light. [2] Previous studies have focused mainly on the internal structures of the compound eyes, as they are key to decode the distinguished visual performance of insects. [3][4][5][6][7][8] Some literature data are present on the ultrastructure, material composition, and sclerotization of the corneal cuticle and their influence on insect vision, [9][10][11][12] however, no study has ever established a quantitative link between the structural and biochemical factors and the biomechanical properties of the corneal cuticle. This is especially important, because as a part of insect exoskeleton, eyes should not only possess good optic properties, but also be able to resist mechanical stresses. For instance, the compound eyes should be able to prevent insect head from damage, maintain the mechanical stability between the ommatidia, and support the internal nervous system. [13] Currently, using the existing data, we can hardly explain the mechanisms behind the mechanical stability of corneal cuticle, especially knowing that the elasticity modulus of resilin-rich cuticle (1-60 MPa) is too low to allow for the observed stability. [14] Here, to fill this gap in the literature, we studied the microstructure, sclerotization, and mechanical properties of locust corneal cuticle. The desert locust Schistocerca gregaria was chosen, because it is one of the most established species in studies of cuticle biomechanics. [15][16][17][18][19][20] We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) for the structural and material analyses, respectively, and nanoindentation for measuring cuticle stiffness and hardness. Our results enabled us to shed light on the complex relationship between the structure, material, and properties of the corneal cuticle and their influence on the mechanical function of insect eyes. Results Microstructure and Material Composition of EyesTransverse fractures on the minor axis of both deep-frozen and air-dried eyes were visualized by SEM. The results revealed that the corneal cuticle consists of the typical layers of epi-, exo-, and endocuticle (Figure 1a,b). The epicuticle is very thin and unstructured, whereas the exocuticle has dense sublayers which are arranged helicoidally, similar to that observed in Compound eyes of insects should be both thin and transparent to allow light to pass through, and at the same time mechanically stable to serve as exoskeleton. These conflicting requirements make the corneal cuticle an interesting example for studying cuticle biomechanics as well as for designing composite materials that seek similar properties. Here, scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and nanoindentation are combined to investigate the microstructure, material composition, and material properties of the corneal cuticle of desert locust Schistocerca gregaria. The results suggest that a fully helicoidal architecture and large proportion of resilin in the corneal cuticle are likely to be adaptations for light transmission. Even though th...

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Drosophila visual transduction

Cited by 192 publications

References 99 publications

Fly cryptochrome and the visual system

Fly cryptochrome and the visual system

The evolution and comparative neurobiology of endocannabinoid signalling

Conflicting Requirements for Transparency and Mechanical Stability in the Compound Eyes of Desert Locusts

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