RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Encephalopsin: A Novel Mammalian Extraretinal Opsin Discretely Localized in the Brain
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 3681
OP 3690
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.19-10-03681.1999
VO 19
IS 10
A1 Seth Blackshaw
A1 Solomon H. Snyder
YR 1999
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/19/10/3681.abstract
AB We have identified a mammalian opsin, encephalopsin, that shows strong and specific expression in the brain. Encephalopsin defines a new family of opsins and shows highest homology to vertebrate retinal and pineal opsins. Encephalopsin is highly expressed in the preoptic area and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, both regions implicated in encephalic photoreception in nonmammalian vertebrates. In addition, encephalopsin shows highly patterned expression in other regions of the brain, being enriched in selected regions of the cerebral cortex, cerebellar Purkinje cells, a subset of striatal neurons, selected thalamic nuclei, and a subset of interneurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. Rostrocaudal gradients of encephalopsin expression are present in the cortex, cerebellum, and striatum. Radial stripes of encephalopsin expression are seen in the cerebellum. In the cortex and cerebellum, encephalopsin expression is considerably higher and more highly patterned in the adult than in the neonate. Encephalopsin is the first putative extraocular opsin identified in mammals and may play a role in encephalic photoreception.