ISSN:
1432-1351
Keywords:
Key words Firefly
;
Chromophore
;
Retinal
;
3-Hydroxyretinal
;
Ultraviolet receptor
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Based on electroretinogram measurements, fireflies are reported to possess two spectral-sensitivity peaks: one in the near-ultraviolet and the other in the green region. This suggests that at least two kinds of visual pigment should be present (Lall and Lloyd 1989). Analyses by high pressure liquid chromatography revealed that there are two kinds of chromophores, i.e., retinal (A1) and 3-hydroxyretinal (A3), in the compound eye of Japanese fireflies of the genus Luciola (Gleadall et␣al. 1989). Through selective light-adaptation experiments and in vitro analyses by high pressure liquid chromatography, it is demonstrated that the A1 is the chromophore of an ultraviolet-sensitive visual pigment and the A3 is the chromophore of a green-sensitive pigment. The absolute amounts of A1 and A3 were, respectively, 32.1 ± 3.9 and 111.1 ± 35.2 pmol in male, and 26.9 ± 6.9 and 63.4 ± 18.2 pmol in female (mean ± SD per animal). These results indicate that the amount of green-sensitive visual pigment in males is significantly higher than in females. A difference in the distribution of these chromophores is demonstrated in the eyes of female (but not male) fireflies: in the dorsal region of the female eye, the A1:A3 ratio is higher than that for the rest of the eye.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s003590050244
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