PUBLICATION

A Spinal Opsin Controls Early Neural Activity and Drives a Behavioral Light Response

Authors
Friedmann, D., Hoagland, A., Berlin, S., Isacoff, E.Y.
ID
ZDB-PUB-141209-10
Date
2015
Source
Current biology : CB   25(1): 69-74 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Isacoff, Ehud
Keywords
none
Datasets
GEO:GSE62527
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism*
  • Motor Activity/radiation effects*
  • Central Nervous System/metabolism
  • Central Nervous System/radiation effects*
  • Light
  • Xenopus
  • Opsins/metabolism*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/radiation effects*
  • Zebrafish
  • Behavior, Animal/radiation effects*
(all 12)
PubMed
25484291 Full text @ Curr. Biol.
Abstract
Nonvisual detection of light by the vertebrate hypothalamus, pineal, and retina is known to govern seasonal and circadian behaviors [1]. However, the expression of opsins in multiple other brain structures [2-4] suggests a more expansive repertoire for light regulation of physiology, behavior, and development. Translucent zebrafish embryos express extraretinal opsins early on [5, 6], at a time when spontaneous activity in the developing CNS plays a role in neuronal maturation and circuit formation [7]. Though the presence of extraretinal opsins is well documented, the function of direct photoreception by the CNS remains largely unknown. Here, we show that early activity in the zebrafish spinal central pattern generator (CPG) and the earliest locomotory behavior are dramatically inhibited by physiological levels of environmental light. We find that the photosensitivity of this circuit is conferred by vertebrate ancient long opsin A (VALopA), which we show to be a Gαi-coupled receptor that is expressed in the neurons of the spinal network. Sustained photoactivation of VALopA not only suppresses spontaneous activity but also alters the maturation of time-locked correlated network patterns. These results uncover a novel role for nonvisual opsins and a mechanism for environmental regulation of spontaneous motor behavior and neural activity in a circuit previously thought to be governed only by intrinsic developmental programs.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Figure Gallery (3 images)
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Expression
Phenotype
No data available
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
nns6TgTransgenic Insertion
    s1020tEtTransgenic Insertion
      zf582TgTransgenic Insertion
        1 - 3 of 3
        Show
        Human Disease / Model
        No data available
        Sequence Targeting Reagents
        Target Reagent Reagent Type
        valopaMO1-valopaMRPHLNO
        1 - 1 of 1
        Show
        Fish
        Fish
        s1020tEt
        1 - 1 of 1
        Show
        Antibodies
        No data available
        Orthology
        No data available
        Engineered Foreign Genes
        Marker Marker Type Name
        GAL4EFGGAL4
        GCaMPEFGGCaMP
        1 - 2 of 2
        Show
        Mapping
        No data available
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        Citation
        Friedmann, D., Hoagland, A., Berlin, S., Isacoff, E.Y. (2015) A Spinal Opsin Controls Early Neural Activity and Drives a Behavioral Light Response. Current biology : CB. 25(1):69-74.