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Channel Rhodopsins

Channel Rhodopsins

Most organisms use photoreceptors to sense and respond to light. Examples of photoreceptors include bacteriorhodopsins and bacteriophytochromes in some bacteria, phytochromes in plants, and rhodopsins in the photoreceptor cells of the vertebral retina. The light-sensitive property of these receptors is because of the bound chromophores, such as bilin in the phytochromes and retinal in the rhodopsins.
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2025

Key Elements of Photo Attraction Bioassay for Insect Studies or Monitoring Programs

Key Elements of Photo Attraction Bioassay for Insect Studies or Monitoring Programs

Published on: July 26, 2018

A "bioluminescent" common cockchafer?

Marcel Koken¹, Valérie Galin², Tim Koken²

¹LABOCEA (R&D Unit) - CNRS, 120 Avenue Alexis de Rochon, 29280 Plouzané, France.

Arthropod Structure & Development

|May 22, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A common cockchafer beetle was observed emitting bright light, a trait not previously known in this agricultural pest. Researchers analyzed video data to hypothesize a light-emitting symbiont or parasite may be responsible.

Keywords:

Bioluminescence Citizen science Cockchafer Cryptozoology May-bug Melolonthinae subfamily Non-bioluminescent species

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Published on: August 4, 2021

Area of Science:

Entomology
Bioluminescence Research
Microbiology

Background:

The common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha), or May-bug, is a well-known agricultural pest.
Bioluminescence is not a characteristic typically associated with this beetle species.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the cause of unexpected strong light emission from a common cockchafer.
To hypothesize potential symbiotic or parasitic organisms responsible for the bioluminescence.

Main Methods:

Analysis of video footage capturing light intensity, frequencies, and spectral information.
Literature review to identify potential light-emitting organisms.

Main Results:

A common cockchafer was filmed emitting intense light from its left elytron during daylight.
The light emission originated from a ring-shaped structure on the elytron.

Conclusions:

The observed bioluminescence in Melolontha melolontha is likely due to a symbiont or parasite.
Further investigation, including specimen preservation, is needed to identify the causative organism.