Work

Differentially-expressed opsin genes identified in Sinocyclocheilus cavefish endemic to China

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Eye degeneration is a common troglomorphic character of cave-dwelling organisms. Comparing the morphology and molecular biology of cave species and their close surface relatives is a powerful tool for studying regressive eye evolution and other adaptive phenotypes. We compared two co-occurring and closely-related species of the fish genus Sinocyclocheilus, which is endemic to China and includes both surfaceand cave-dwelling species. Sinocyclocheilus tileihornes, a cave species, had smaller eyes than Sinocyclocheilus angustiporus, a surface species. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the cavefish had shorter cones and more disorderly rods than did the surface-dwelling species. Using quantitative PCR and in situ hybridization, we found that rhodopsin and a long-wavelength sensitive opsin had significantly lower expression levels in the cavefish. Furthermore, one of two short-wavelength-sensitive opsins was expressed at significantly higher levels in the cavefish. Changes in the expression of opsin genes may have played a role in the degeneration of cavefish eyes.

Source: Current Zoology

DOI: 10.1093/czoolo/59.2.170

Authors: Fanwei Meng, Yahui Zhao, John H. Postlethwait, Chunguang Zhang

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, University of Oregon

Language: English

Topic: Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy

Subfield: Paleontology

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Center for Research Resources

Awards: Resources for Teleost Gene Duplicates and Human Disease, Advancing the Scientific Potential of Transcriptomics in Aquatic Models, Advancing the Scientific Potential of Transcriptomics in Aquatic Models, Resources for Teleost Gene Duplicates and Human Disease