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Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways01:22

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

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At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category,...
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GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
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Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.
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Determination of Photoreceptor Cell Spectral Sensitivity in an Insect Model from In Vivo Intracellular Recordings
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An Ocean of Opsins.

Giacinto De Vivo1, Eric Pelletier2,3, Roberto Feuda1,4,5

  • 1Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli, Italy.

Genome Biology and Evolution
|November 4, 2025
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Summary

This study reveals opsin diversity across marine life using meta-omics. Researchers identified known opsin subfamilies in various metazoans, providing insights into their evolution and taxonomy.

Keywords:
marine biodiversitymetagenomicsmetatranscriptomicsphotoreceptionphylogeneticsplankton

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Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Molecular Evolution
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Opsins are crucial photoreceptor proteins involved in vision.
  • Understanding opsin diversity is key to comprehending visual system evolution across taxa.
  • Meta-omic data offers a powerful lens to explore microbial and metazoan diversity in marine environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the diversity and evolution of opsins in marine organisms.
  • To analyze opsin sequences from large-scale meta-omic datasets.
  • To provide taxonomic insights into known opsin subfamilies and phylogenetic relationships.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized meta-omic data from the Tara Oceans and Tara Polar Circle expeditions.
  • Employed sequence similarity methods for opsin identification.
  • Conducted phylogenetic analyses to determine evolutionary relationships.

Main Results:

  • Identified opsins across diverse metazoan groups, predominantly in arthropods and vertebrates.
  • Detected all known opsin subfamilies: r-opsin, c-opsin, xenopsin, and Group-4 opsins.
  • Discovered novel opsin sequences in understudied taxa like chaetognaths, rotifers, acoelomates, and tunicates.

Conclusions:

  • The study reinforces existing phylogenetic hypotheses regarding opsin evolution.
  • No new opsin families were discovered, but significant taxonomic insights were gained.
  • The identified novel opsin sequences represent a valuable resource for future functional and diversity studies.