1
|
de Grip WJ, Ganapathy S. Rhodopsins: An Excitingly Versatile Protein Species for Research, Development and Creative Engineering. Front Chem 2022; 10:879609. [PMID: 35815212 PMCID: PMC9257189 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.879609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The first member and eponym of the rhodopsin family was identified in the 1930s as the visual pigment of the rod photoreceptor cell in the animal retina. It was found to be a membrane protein, owing its photosensitivity to the presence of a covalently bound chromophoric group. This group, derived from vitamin A, was appropriately dubbed retinal. In the 1970s a microbial counterpart of this species was discovered in an archaeon, being a membrane protein also harbouring retinal as a chromophore, and named bacteriorhodopsin. Since their discovery a photogenic panorama unfolded, where up to date new members and subspecies with a variety of light-driven functionality have been added to this family. The animal branch, meanwhile categorized as type-2 rhodopsins, turned out to form a large subclass in the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors and are essential to multiple elements of light-dependent animal sensory physiology. The microbial branch, the type-1 rhodopsins, largely function as light-driven ion pumps or channels, but also contain sensory-active and enzyme-sustaining subspecies. In this review we will follow the development of this exciting membrane protein panorama in a representative number of highlights and will present a prospect of their extraordinary future potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Willem J. de Grip
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Department of Biophysical Organic Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Srividya Ganapathy
- Department of Imaging Physics, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Revilla-i-Domingo R, Rajan VBV, Waldherr M, Prohaczka G, Musset H, Orel L, Gerrard E, Smolka M, Stockinger A, Farlik M, Lucas RJ, Raible F, Tessmar-Raible K. Characterization of cephalic and non-cephalic sensory cell types provides insight into joint photo- and mechanoreceptor evolution. eLife 2021; 10:e66144. [PMID: 34350831 PMCID: PMC8367381 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomeric opsins (r-opsins) are light sensors in cephalic eye photoreceptors, but also function in additional sensory organs. This has prompted questions on the evolutionary relationship of these cell types, and if ancient r-opsins were non-photosensory. A molecular profiling approach in the marine bristleworm Platynereis dumerilii revealed shared and distinct features of cephalic and non-cephalic r-opsin1-expressing cells. Non-cephalic cells possess a full set of phototransduction components, but also a mechanosensory signature. Prompted by the latter, we investigated Platynereis putative mechanotransducer and found that nompc and pkd2.1 co-expressed with r-opsin1 in TRE cells by HCR RNA-FISH. To further assess the role of r-Opsin1 in these cells, we studied its signaling properties and unraveled that r-Opsin1 is a Gαq-coupled blue light receptor. Profiling of cells from r-opsin1 mutants versus wild-types, and a comparison under different light conditions reveals that in the non-cephalic cells light - mediated by r-Opsin1 - adjusts the expression level of a calcium transporter relevant for auditory mechanosensation in vertebrates. We establish a deep-learning-based quantitative behavioral analysis for animal trunk movements and identify a light- and r-Opsin-1-dependent fine-tuning of the worm's undulatory movements in headless trunks, which are known to require mechanosensory feedback. Our results provide new data on peripheral cell types of likely light sensory/mechanosensory nature. These results point towards a concept in which such a multisensory cell type evolved to allow for fine-tuning of mechanosensation by light. This implies that light-independent mechanosensory roles of r-opsins may have evolved secondarily.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roger Revilla-i-Domingo
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform "Single-Cell Regulation of Stem Cells", University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
| | - Vinoth Babu Veedin Rajan
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
| | - Monika Waldherr
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
| | - Günther Prohaczka
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
| | - Hugo Musset
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
| | - Lukas Orel
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
| | - Elliot Gerrard
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, University of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
| | - Moritz Smolka
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Center for Integrative Bioinformatics Vienna, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna and Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Alexander Stockinger
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform "Single-Cell Regulation of Stem Cells", University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
| | - Matthias Farlik
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of SciencesViennaAustria
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Robert J Lucas
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, University of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
| | - Florian Raible
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform "Single-Cell Regulation of Stem Cells", University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
| | - Kristin Tessmar-Raible
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenterViennaAustria
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Peloggia J, Münch D, Meneses-Giles P, Romero-Carvajal A, Lush ME, Lawson ND, McClain M, Pan YA, Piotrowski T. Adaptive cell invasion maintains lateral line organ homeostasis in response to environmental changes. Dev Cell 2021; 56:1296-1312.e7. [PMID: 33878346 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian inner ear and fish lateral line sensory hair cells (HCs) detect fluid motion to transduce environmental signals. Actively maintained ionic homeostasis of the mammalian inner ear endolymph is essential for HC function. In contrast, fish lateral line HCs are exposed to the fluctuating ionic composition of the aqueous environment. Using lineage labeling, in vivo time-lapse imaging and scRNA-seq, we discovered highly motile skin-derived cells that invade mature mechanosensory organs of the zebrafish lateral line and differentiate into Neuromast-associated (Nm) ionocytes. This invasion is adaptive as it is triggered by environmental fluctuations. Our discovery of Nm ionocytes challenges the notion of an entirely placodally derived lateral line and identifies Nm ionocytes as likely regulators of HC function possibly by modulating the ionic microenvironment. Nm ionocytes provide an experimentally accessible in vivo system to study cell invasion and migration, as well as the physiological adaptation of vertebrate organs to changing environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Peloggia
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Daniela Münch
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | | | - Andrés Romero-Carvajal
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA; Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Mark E Lush
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Nathan D Lawson
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester 01605, USA
| | - Melainia McClain
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Y Albert Pan
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Falcón J, Torriglia A, Attia D, Viénot F, Gronfier C, Behar-Cohen F, Martinsons C, Hicks D. Exposure to Artificial Light at Night and the Consequences for Flora, Fauna, and Ecosystems. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:602796. [PMID: 33304237 PMCID: PMC7701298 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.602796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The present review draws together wide-ranging studies performed over the last decades that catalogue the effects of artificial-light-at-night (ALAN) upon living species and their environment. We provide an overview of the tremendous variety of light-detection strategies which have evolved in living organisms - unicellular, plants and animals, covering chloroplasts (plants), and the plethora of ocular and extra-ocular organs (animals). We describe the visual pigments which permit photo-detection, paying attention to their spectral characteristics, which extend from the ultraviolet into infrared. We discuss how organisms use light information in a way crucial for their development, growth and survival: phototropism, phototaxis, photoperiodism, and synchronization of circadian clocks. These aspects are treated in depth, as their perturbation underlies much of the disruptive effects of ALAN. The review goes into detail on circadian networks in living organisms, since these fundamental features are of critical importance in regulating the interface between environment and body. Especially, hormonal synthesis and secretion are often under circadian and circannual control, hence perturbation of the clock will lead to hormonal imbalance. The review addresses how the ubiquitous introduction of light-emitting diode technology may exacerbate, or in some cases reduce, the generalized ever-increasing light pollution. Numerous examples are given of how widespread exposure to ALAN is perturbing many aspects of plant and animal behaviour and survival: foraging, orientation, migration, seasonal reproduction, colonization and more. We examine the potential problems at the level of individual species and populations and extend the debate to the consequences for ecosystems. We stress, through a few examples, the synergistic harmful effects resulting from the impacts of ALAN combined with other anthropogenic pressures, which often impact the neuroendocrine loops in vertebrates. The article concludes by debating how these anthropogenic changes could be mitigated by more reasonable use of available technology - for example by restricting illumination to more essential areas and hours, directing lighting to avoid wasteful radiation and selecting spectral emissions, to reduce impact on circadian clocks. We end by discussing how society should take into account the potentially major consequences that ALAN has on the natural world and the repercussions for ongoing human health and welfare.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack Falcón
- Laboratoire Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), MNHN, CNRS FRE 2030, SU, IRD 207, UCN, UA, Paris, France
| | - Alicia Torriglia
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM U 1138, Ophtalmopole Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Université de Paris - SU, Paris, France
| | - Dina Attia
- ANSES, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Claude Gronfier
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL), Waking Team, Inserm UMRS 1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Francine Behar-Cohen
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM U 1138, Ophtalmopole Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Université de Paris - SU, Paris, France
| | | | - David Hicks
- Inserm, CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
|
6
|
Katana R, Guan C, Zanini D, Larsen ME, Giraldo D, Geurten BRH, Schmidt CF, Britt SG, Göpfert MC. Chromophore-Independent Roles of Opsin Apoproteins in Drosophila Mechanoreceptors. Curr Biol 2019; 29:2961-2969.e4. [PMID: 31447373 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Rhodopsins, the major light-detecting molecules of animal visual systems [1], consist of opsin apoproteins that covalently bind a retinal chromophore with a conserved lysine residue [1, 2]. In addition to capturing photons, this chromophore contributes to rhodopsin maturation [3, 4], trafficking [3, 4], and stabilization [5], and defects in chromophore synthesis and recycling can cause dysfunction of the retina and dystrophy [6-9]. Indications that opsin apoproteins alone might have biological roles have come from archaebacteria and platyhelminths, which present opsin-like proteins that lack the chromophore binding site and are deemed to function independently of light [10, 11]. Light-independent sensory roles have been documented for Drosophila opsins [12-15], yet also these unconventional opsin functions are thought to require chromophore binding [12, 13, 15]. Unconjugated opsin apoproteins act as phospholipid scramblases in mammalian photoreceptor disks [16], yet chromophore-independent roles of opsin apoproteins outside of eyes have, to the best of our knowledge, hitherto not been described. Drosophila chordotonal mechanoreceptors require opsins [13, 15], and we find that their function remains uncompromised by nutrient carotenoid depletion. Disrupting carotenoid uptake and cleavage also left the mechanoreceptors unaffected, and manipulating the chromophore attachment site of the fly's major visual opsin Rh1 impaired photoreceptor, but not mechanoreceptor, function. Notwithstanding this chromophore independence, some proteins that process and recycle the chromophore in the retina are also required in mechanoreceptors, including visual cycle components that recycle the chromophore upon its photoisomerization. Our results thus establish biological function for unconjugated opsin apoproteins outside of eyes and, in addition, document chromophore-independent roles for chromophore pathway components.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Radoslaw Katana
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Chonglin Guan
- Faculty of Physics, Third Institute of Physics - Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Damiano Zanini
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthew E Larsen
- Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Diego Giraldo
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bart R H Geurten
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph F Schmidt
- Faculty of Physics, Third Institute of Physics - Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Department of Physics and Soft Matter Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Steven G Britt
- Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Martin C Göpfert
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Crowe-Riddell JM, Williams R, Chapuis L, Sanders KL. Ultrastructural evidence of a mechanosensory function of scale organs (sensilla) in sea snakes (Hydrophiinae). ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:182022. [PMID: 31183131 PMCID: PMC6502359 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.182022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of epidermal scales was a major innovation in lepidosaurs, providing a barrier to dehydration and physical stress, while functioning as a sensitive interface for detecting mechanical stimuli in the environment. In snakes, mechanoreception involves tiny scale organs (sensilla) that are concentrated on the surface of the head. The fully marine sea snakes (Hydrophiinae) are closely related to terrestrial hydrophiine snakes but have substantially more protruding (dome-shaped) scale organs that often cover a larger portion of the scale surface. Various divergent selection pressures in the marine environment could account for this morphological variation relating to detection of mechanical stimuli from direct contact with stimuli and/or indirect contact via water motion (i.e. 'hydrodynamic reception'), or co-option for alternate sensory or non-sensory functions. We addressed these hypotheses using immunohistochemistry, and light and electron microscopy, to describe the cells and nerve connections underlying scale organs in two sea snakes, Aipysurus laevis and Hydrophis stokesii. Our results show ultrastructural features in the cephalic scale organs of both marine species that closely resemble the mechanosensitive Meissner-like corpuscles that underlie terrestrial snake scale organs. We conclude that the scale organs of marine hydrophiines have retained a mechanosensory function, but future studies are needed to examine whether they are sensitive to hydrodynamic stimuli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna M. Crowe-Riddell
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Ruth Williams
- Adelaide Microscopy, the Centre for Advanced Microscopy and Microanalysis, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Lucille Chapuis
- College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Kate L. Sanders
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Crowe-Riddell JM, Simões BF, Partridge JC, Hunt DM, Delean S, Schwerdt JG, Breen J, Ludington A, Gower DJ, Sanders KL. Phototactic tails: Evolution and molecular basis of a novel sensory trait in sea snakes. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:2013-2028. [PMID: 30767303 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Dermal phototaxis has been reported in a few aquatic vertebrate lineages spanning fish, amphibians and reptiles. These taxa respond to light on the skin of their elongate hind-bodies and tails by withdrawing under cover to avoid detection by predators. Here, we investigated tail phototaxis in sea snakes (Hydrophiinae), the only reptiles reported to exhibit this sensory behaviour. We conducted behavioural tests in 17 wild-caught sea snakes of eight species by illuminating the dorsal surface of the tail and midbody skin using cold white, violet, blue, green and red light. Our results confirmed phototactic tail withdrawal in the previously studied Aipysurus laevis, revealed this trait for the first time in A. duboisii and A. tenuis, and suggested that tail photoreceptors have peak spectral sensitivities between blue and green light (457-514 nm). Based on these results, and an absence of photoresponses in five Aipysurus and Hydrophis species, we tentatively infer that tail phototaxis evolved in the ancestor of a clade of six Aipysurus species (comprising 10% of all sea snakes). Quantifying tail damage, we found that the probability of sustaining tail injuries was not influenced by tail phototactic ability in snakes. Gene profiling showed that transcriptomes of both tail skin and body skin lacked visual opsins but contained melanopsin (opn4x) in addition to key genes of the retinal regeneration and phototransduction cascades. This work suggests that a nonvisual photoreceptor (e.g., Gq rhabdomeric) signalling pathway underlies tail phototaxis, and provides candidate gene targets for future studies of this unusual sensory innovation in reptiles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna M Crowe-Riddell
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Bruno F Simões
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Julian C Partridge
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - David M Hunt
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,Centre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Steven Delean
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Julian G Schwerdt
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - James Breen
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Bioinformatics Hub, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alastair Ludington
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Bioinformatics Hub, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - David J Gower
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Kate L Sanders
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Matynia A, Nguyen E, Sun X, Blixt FW, Parikh S, Kessler J, Pérez de Sevilla Müller L, Habib S, Kim P, Wang ZZ, Rodriguez A, Charles A, Nusinowitz S, Edvinsson L, Barnes S, Brecha NC, Gorin MB. Peripheral Sensory Neurons Expressing Melanopsin Respond to Light. Front Neural Circuits 2016; 10:60. [PMID: 27559310 PMCID: PMC4978714 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2016.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of light to cause pain is paradoxical. The retina detects light but is devoid of nociceptors while the trigeminal sensory ganglia (TG) contain nociceptors but not photoreceptors. Melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are thought to mediate light-induced pain but recent evidence raises the possibility of an alternative light responsive pathway independent of the retina and optic nerve. Here, we show that melanopsin is expressed in both human and mouse TG neurons. In mice, they represent 3% of small TG neurons that are preferentially localized in the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve and are likely nociceptive C fibers and high-threshold mechanoreceptor Aδ fibers based on a strong size-function association. These isolated neurons respond to blue light stimuli with a delayed onset and sustained firing, similar to the melanopsin-dependent intrinsic photosensitivity observed in ipRGCs. Mice with severe bilateral optic nerve crush exhibit no light-induced responses including behavioral light aversion until treated with nitroglycerin, an inducer of migraine in people and migraine-like symptoms in mice. With nitroglycerin, these same mice with optic nerve crush exhibit significant light aversion. Furthermore, this retained light aversion remains dependent on melanopsin-expressing neurons. Our results demonstrate a novel light-responsive neural function independent of the optic nerve that may originate in the peripheral nervous system to provide the first direct mechanism for an alternative light detection pathway that influences motivated behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Matynia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos Angeles, CA, USA; Brain Research Institute, UCLALos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Eileen Nguyen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xiaoping Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Frank W Blixt
- Division of Experimental Vascular Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Lund, Sweden
| | - Sachin Parikh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos Angeles, CA, USA; Brain Research Institute, UCLALos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jason Kessler
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Samer Habib
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Paul Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Zhe Z Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Allen Rodriguez
- Department of Neurobiology and Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Charles
- Brain Research Institute, UCLALos Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Steven Nusinowitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lars Edvinsson
- Division of Experimental Vascular Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Lund, Sweden
| | - Steven Barnes
- Department of Neurobiology and Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos Angeles, CA, USA; Departments of Physiology & Biophysics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS, Canada
| | - Nicholas C Brecha
- Brain Research Institute, UCLALos Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurobiology and Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos Angeles, CA, USA; Veterans Administration Greater Los Angeles Health SystemLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael B Gorin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos Angeles, CA, USA; Brain Research Institute, UCLALos Angeles, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kingston ACN, Cronin TW. Diverse Distributions of Extraocular Opsins in Crustaceans, Cephalopods, and Fish. Integr Comp Biol 2016; 56:820-833. [PMID: 27252200 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-visual and extraocular photoreceptors are common among animals, but current understanding linking molecular pathways to physiological function of these receptors is lacking. Opsin diversity in extraocular tissues suggests that many putative extraocular photoreceptors utilize the "visual" phototransduction pathway-the same phototransduction pathway as photoreceptors within the retina dedicated to light detection for image sensing. Here, we provide a brief overview of the current understanding of non-visual and extraocular photoreceptors, and contribute a synopsis of several novel putative extraocular photoreceptors that use both visual and non-visual phototransduction pathways. Crayfish, cephalopods, and flat fish express opsins in diverse tissues, suggesting the presence of extraocular photoreceptors. In most cases, we find that these animals use the same phototransduction pathway that is utilized in the retinas for image-formation. However, we also find the presence of non-visual phototransduction components in the skin of flounders. Our evidence suggests that extraocular photoreceptors may employ a number of phototransduction pathways that do not appear to correlate with purpose or location of the photoreceptor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra C N Kingston
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Thomas W Cronin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Shirzad-Wasei N, DeGrip WJ. Heterologous expression of melanopsin: Present, problems and prospects. Prog Retin Eye Res 2016; 52:1-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|