Valero-Gracia, A;
Petrone, L;
Oliveri, P;
Nilsson, D-E;
Arnone, MI;
(2016)
Non-directional Photoreceptors in the Pluteus of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
, 4
, Article 127. 10.3389/fevo.2016.00127.
Preview |
Text
fevo-04-00127.pdf - Published Version Download (4MB) | Preview |
Abstract
In comparison to complex visual systems, non-directional photoreception—the most primitive form of biological photodetection—has been poorly investigated, although it is essential to many biological processes such as circadian and seasonal rhythms. Here we describe the spatiotemporal expression pattern of the major molecular actors mediating light reception—opsins—localized in the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus larva. In contrast to other zooplanktonic larvae, the echinopluteus lacks photoreceptor cells with observable shading pigments involved in directional visual tasks. Nonetheless, the echinopluteus expresses two distinct classes of opsins: a Go-opsin and a rhabdomeric opsin. The Go-opsin, Sp-opsin3.2, is detectable at early (3 days post fertilization) and four armed pluteus stages (4 days post fertilization) in two cells that flank the apical organ. To rule out the presence of shading pigments involved in directional photoreception, we used electron microscopy to explore the expression domain of Go-opsin Sp-opsin3.2 positive cells. The rhabdomeric opsin Sp-Opsin4 expression is detectable in clusters of cells located around the primary podia at the five-fold ectoderm pentagonal disc stage (day 18–21) and thereafter, thus indicating that Sp-Opsin4 may not be involved in the photoreception mechanism of the larva, but only of the juvenile. We discuss the putative function of the relevant cells in their neural context, and propose a model for understanding simple photodetection in marine larvae.
Type: | Article |
---|---|
Title: | Non-directional Photoreceptors in the Pluteus of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus |
Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
DOI: | 10.3389/fevo.2016.00127 |
Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2016.00127 |
Language: | English |
Additional information: | Copyright © 2016 Valero-Gracia, Petrone, Oliveri, Nilsson and Arnone. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. |
Keywords: | eye evolution, Go-opsin, invertebrate larvae, r-opsin, sea urchin, zooplankton |
UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences > Genetics, Evolution and Environment |
URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1559594 |
Archive Staff Only
View Item |