Premium
A deep brain photoreceptive molecule in the toad hypothalamus
Author(s) -
Yoshikawa Tomoko,
Okano Toshiyuki,
Oishi Tadashi
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(98)00139-2
Subject(s) - toad , hypothalamus , biology , complementary dna , periventricular nucleus , medicine , endocrinology , arcuate nucleus , gene , genetics
We have isolated a cDNA clone encoding a deep brain photoreceptive molecule from the hypothalamic cDNA library of the toad, Bufo japonicus . The deduced amino acid sequence showed the highest similarity to that of pinopsin (75–76%) among vertebrate retinal opsins, indicating the expression of toad pinopsin in the deep brain. Antibodies raised against the C‐terminal tail of toad pinopsin stained cell bodies and the knob‐like structures of the cerebrospinal fluid‐contacting neurons in the anterior preoptic nucleus. This region is known to play an important role in breeding behavior, suggesting that toad pinopsin acts as a photosensor for the photoperiodic gonadal response.