The molecular genetics of red and green color vision in mammals.
Abstract: To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of red-green color vision in mammals, we have cloned and sequenced the red and green opsin cDNAs of cat (Felis catus), horse (Equus caballus), gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and guinea pig (Cavia porcellus). These opsins were expressed in COS1 cells and reconstituted with 11-cis-retinal. The purified visual pigments of the cat, horse, squirrel, deer, and guinea pig have lambdamax values at 553, 545, 532, 531, and 516 nm, respectively, which are precise to within +/-1 nm. We also regenerated the "true" red pigment of goldfish (Carassius auratus), which has a lambdamax value at 559 +/- 4 nm. Multiple linear regression analyses show that S180A, H197Y, Y277F, T285A, and A308S shift the lambdamax values of the red and green pigments in mammals toward blue by 7, 28, 7, 15, and 16 nm, respectively, and the reverse amino acid changes toward red by the same extents. The additive effects of these amino acid changes fully explain the red-green color vision in a wide range of mammalian species, goldfish, American chameleon (Anolis carolinensis), and pigeon (Columba livia).
Publication Date: 1999-10-08 PubMed ID: 10511567PubMed Central: PMC1460773DOI: 10.1093/genetics/153.2.919Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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This research article revolves around the investigation of the molecular mechanisms that control red-green color perception in mammals. The opsin genes, responsible for color vision, from various mammals were cloned, sequenced, and expressed for experimental purpose. The resulted visual pigments produced in these mammals were measured. Significant amino acid changes were identified that influence the shift in color perception towards red or blue, thereby explaining the red-green color vision in various mammalian species.
Molecular Mechanism Review
- The study focused on understanding the molecular genetics responsible for red-green color vision in mammals. Red-green color perception in mammalian eyes is managed by special light-sensitive cells in the retina that contain pigments called opsins, which respond to different light wavelengths.
- The researchers cloned and sequenced the cDNAs (complementary DNAs) of red and green opsins from various mammals (cat, horse, squirrel, deer, and guinea pig).
- These opsin cDNAs were expressed in COS1 cells (a cell line used in molecular biology) and combined with a specific type of retinal, which is a component of the visual pigment in the eye.
Visual Pigments and Color Vision
- The study measured the wavelengths at which the visual pigments (from the aforementioned animals) absorbed the most light, also known as the lambdamax values, and found them to be accurate to within +/-1 nm.
- In addition, the researchers regenerated the “true” red pigment from the goldfish to provide a contrasting perspective.
Amino Acid Changes Influence Color Perception
- By using multiple linear regression analyses, the researchers identified five specific changes in the amino acid sequences that drastically shift the lambdamax values of the red and green pigments in the mammals under study.
- These changes cause shifts towards either blue (with amino acids S180A, H197Y, Y277F, T285A, and A308S) or red (with reverse amino acid sequences) by fixed extents.
- The additive effects of these amino acid changes provide a comprehensive explanation about the variety of red-green color vision across different mammalian species, emphasizing their significance in the evolution and diversity of color vision among mammals.
Cite This Article
APA
Yokoyama S, Radlwimmer FB.
(1999).
The molecular genetics of red and green color vision in mammals.
Genetics, 153(2), 919-932.
https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/153.2.919 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA. syokoyam@mailbox.syr.edu
MeSH Terms
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- COS Cells
- Cats
- Color Perception / genetics
- DNA Primers
- Deer
- Dolphins
- Evolution, Molecular
- Goats
- Guinea Pigs
- Horses
- Humans
- Mammals / genetics
- Mammals / physiology
- Mice
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Phylogeny
- Rabbits
- Rats
- Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Rod Opsins / biosynthesis
- Rod Opsins / chemistry
- Rod Opsins / genetics
- Sciuridae
- Sequence Alignment
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Transfection
Grant Funding
- GM-42379 / NIGMS NIH HHS
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