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Electrical interactions between photoreceptors in the compound eye of
Paulus Saari1, Esa-Ville Immonen1, Andrew S French2
1Biophysics group, Nano and Molecular Systems Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu 90014, Finland.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|September 19, 2018
Summary
The American cockroach compound eye has UV- and green-sensitive photoreceptors. Green-sensitive photoreceptor responses to UV light involve interactions with UV-sensitive cells, suggesting distinct cellular origins for light responses.
Area of Science:
- Insect vision
- Photoreceptor physiology
- Compound eye research
Background:
- The compound eye of Periplaneta americana possesses UV-sensitive and green-sensitive photoreceptors.
- Distinct spectral sensitivities suggest complex visual processing within ommatidia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular mechanisms underlying anomalous photoreceptor responses in Periplaneta americana.
- To elucidate the interactions between UV- and green-sensitive photoreceptors.
Main Methods:
- Intracellular recordings were used to analyze photoreceptor responses.
- RNA interference (RNAi) was employed to selectively knock down green opsin (GO1) and UV opsin (UVO) genes.
- Angular sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the origin of photoreceptor signals.
Main Results:
- Knockdown of GO1 eliminated hyperpolarization and reduced delayed depolarization in UV-sensitive photoreceptors, indicating inhibitory interactions.
- Green-sensitive photoreceptor responses to UV light became biphasic after GO1 knockdown.
- Knockdown of UVO had minimal impact on delayed depolarization in green-sensitive photoreceptors.
Conclusions:
- Delayed depolarization in green-sensitive photoreceptors stimulated by violet light originates from other photoreceptors within the same ommatidium.
- The cellular sources for transient and delayed depolarization by violet light are distinct.
- Fast inhibitory interactions between green- and UV-sensitive photoreceptors contribute to visual processing.
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