Lens eyes on land

170

212

The authors wish to note the following: "The contrast of our final projection map was inverted, so that we interpreted the background density rather than the actual protein density in terms of structural features of the potassium channel-Fv complex. In addition, we indexed the 2D crystals with unit cell parameters of a = b = 175 Å, while the correct indexing would be a = b = 124 Å. Given these analysis errors, the resulting density map and our interpretation of the structural features are not correct. Accordingly, we would like to retract this paper. We acknowledge Yoshinori Fujiyoshi, Rod MacKinnon, Kazutoshi Tani, and Tom Walz for identifying the errors and pointing them out to us."

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Metazoan opsin evolution reveals a simple route to animal vision

Feuda

Hamilton

McInerney

et al. 2012

170

212

“…In contrast, the morphological organization of the echinoid PRC system, as well as the arrangement of functional optic organs, differs considerably from that in other metazoans. In sea urchins, not even the simplest "proto-eye" is present in terms of a PRC being partially shielded by pigment and thus allowing for directional vision (15,30,31). In addition to the lack of a typical "eye-organ," the echinoid PRC arrangement in regard to the nervous system is also unique among metazoans.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unique system of photoreceptors in sea urchin tube feet

Ullrich-Lüter

Dupont

Arboleda

et al. 2011

132

160

Different sea urchin species show a vast variety of responses to variations in light intensity; however, despite this behavioral evidence for photosensitivity, light sensing in these animals has remained an enigma. Genome information of the recently sequenced purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) allowed us to address this question from a previously unexplored molecular perspective by localizing expression of the rhabdomeric opsin Spopsin4 and Sp-pax6, two genes essential for photoreceptor function and development, respectively. Using a specifically designed antibody against Sp-Opsin4 and in situ hybridization for both genes, we detected expression in two distinct groups of photoreceptor cells (PRCs) located in the animal's numerous tube feet. Specific reactivity of the Sp-Opsin4 antibody with sea star optic cushions, which regulate phototaxis, suggests a similar visual function in sea urchins. Ultrastructural characterization of the sea urchin PRCs revealed them to be of a microvillar receptor type. Our data suggest that echinoderms, in contrast to chordates, deploy a microvillar, r-opsinexpressing PRC type for vision, a feature that has been so far documented only in protostome animals. Surprisingly, sea urchin PRCs lack any associated screening pigment. Indeed, one of the tube foot PRC clusters may account for directional vision by being shaded through the opaque calcite skeleton. The PRC axons connect to the animal internal nervous system, suggesting an integrative function beyond local short circuits. Because juveniles display no phototaxis until skeleton completion, we suggest a model in which the entire sea urchin, deploying its skeleton as PRC screening device, functions as a huge compound eye.evolution | electron microscopy | immunogold

“…A variety of factors determine the blurring of the image formed on the retina, including diffraction through the pupil, aberrations in the optical system, and retinal limitations (2,(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34). These terms comprise the image quality budget and determine the sharpest image that can be formed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectral discrimination in color blind animals via chromatic aberration and pupil shape

Stubbs

2016

We present a mechanism by which organisms with only a single photoreceptor, which have a monochromatic view of the world, can achieve color discrimination. An off-axis pupil and the principle of chromatic aberration (where different wavelengths come to focus at different distances behind a lens) can combine to provide "colorblind" animals with a way to distinguish colors. As a specific example, we constructed a computer model of the visual system of cephalopods (octopus, squid, and cuttlefish) that have a single unfiltered photoreceptor type. We compute a quantitative image quality budget for this visual system and show how chromatic blurring dominates the visual acuity in these animals in shallow water. We quantitatively show, through numerical simulations, how chromatic aberration can be exploited to obtain spectral information, especially through nonaxial pupils that are characteristic of coleoid cephalopods. We have also assessed the inherent ambiguity between range and color that is a consequence of the chromatic variation of best focus with wavelength. This proposed mechanism is consistent with the extensive suite of visual/behavioral and physiological data that has been obtained from cephalopod studies and offers a possible solution to the apparent paradox of vivid chromatic behaviors in color blind animals. Moreover, this proposed mechanism has potential applicability in organisms with limited photoreceptor complements, such as spiders and dolphins.spectral discrimination | chromatic aberration | color vision | pupil shape | cephalopod W e show in this paper that, under certain conditions, organisms can determine the spectral composition of objects, even with a single photoreceptor type. Through computational modeling, we show a mechanism that provides spectral information using an important relationship: the position of sharpest focus depends on the spectral peak of detected photons. Mapping out contrast vs. focal setting (accommodation) amounts to obtaining a coarse spectrum of objects in the field of view, much as a digital camera attains best focus by maximizing contrast vs. focal length. We note that a similar phenomenon has been advanced as a possible explanation for color percepts in red/green color-blind primates (1); however, primates have not evolved the off-axis pupil shape found in nearly all shallow water cephalopods that enhances this effect.The only other known mechanism of color discrimination in organisms involves determining the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation using differential comparisons between simultaneous neural signals arising from photoreceptor channels with differing spectral acceptances. Color vision using multiple classes of photoreceptors on a 2D retinal surface comes at a cost: reduced signal to noise ratio in low-light conditions and degraded angular resolution in each spectral channel. Thus, many lineages that are or were active in low-light conditions have lost spectral channels to increase sensitivity (2).Octopus, squid, and cuttlefish (coleoid cephalopods) have l...