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Fig. 1 | BMC Ecology and Evolution

Fig. 1

From: The rhodopsin-retinochrome system for retinal re-isomerization predates the origin of cephalopod eyes

Fig. 1

Expression and protein distribution of retinochrome in 7 dpf Leptochiton asellus larvae and evolution of the photoisomerase opsin family. A Maximum-likelihood tree (RAXML) of the photoisomerase opsin family. The photoisomerases form a well-supported group and therein the subgroups arthropod peropsin-like pigments, chordate RGRs, deuterostomes peropsins, retinochromes containing Las-retinochrome, and mollusk peropsin-like pigments. Bayesian posterior probabilities (left value) higher than 0.90 and ML bootstrap (500 replicates, right value) higher than 50% are indicated below or above branches (see SI for uncollapsed tree). B 7 dpf larva with eyespot under the prototroch (PT). C Expression of Las-retinochrome in the eye and apical PRCs (inlet). D Las-r-opsin expression in the eye and the apical PRCs (inlet). EG Las-retinochrome (cyan) and Las-r-opsin (magenta) are co-expressed in all PRC of L. asellus in the apical area (E), the eye PRCs (F) and the posterior PRCs (G). H A specifically designed antibody against Las-retinochrome is expressed in all PRCs of 7 dpf larvae, in the apical area, the eyes and the very posterior end. I–K The combination of Las-r-opsin in situ hybridization and stainings with specifically designed antibodies against Las-r-retinochrome and Las-r-opsin reveals the cellular distribution of the opsin proteins. Las-retinochrome protein (cyan) is distributed throughout the cell body and the apical part of the cell (I), whereas Las-r-opsin protein (red) is restricted to the apical surface and Las-r-opsin mRNA (magenta) to the nucleus (J). Las-retinochrome protein reaches the cell surface but does not expand apically like Las-r-opsin protein (K). Scale bars 100 μm in BD,H; 2,5 μm in EG; 5 μm in IK

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