The sensitizing pigment in fly photoreceptors

ISSN:
1432-1017
Keywords:
Fly visual pigment ; sensitizing pigment
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Many lines of evidence suggest that the ultraviolet (uv) sensitivity found in the most common photoreceptor class in the fly is due to a sensitizing pigment which transmits the energy of absorbed light quanta to the visual pigment (Kirschfeld et al. 1977). It is shown that the uv extinction of the rhabdomeres has a vibrational fine structure corresponding to that found in the receptors' spectral sensitivity (Gemperlein et al. 1980). The uv extinction is greatly reduced when flies are reared on a carotenoid-deficient diet, in which case the vibrational fine structure in sensitivity is also lost. Properties (extinction, fluorescence) of several groups of substances that could represent the sensitizing pigment are illustrated.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL: