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Assessing the use of genomic DNA as a predictor of the maximum absorbance wavelength of avian SWS1 opsin visual pigments

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Abstract

Recently, in vitro mutation studies have made it possible to predict the wavelengths of maximum absorbance (λmax) of avian UV/violet sensitive visual pigments (SWS1) from the identity of a few key amino acid residues in the opsin gene. Given that the absorbance spectrum of a cone’s visual pigment and of its pigmented oil droplet can be predicted from just the λmax, it may become possible to predict the entire spectral sensitivity of a bird using genetic samples from live birds or museum specimens. However, whilst this concept is attractive, it must be validated to assess the reliability of the predictions of λmax from opsin amino acid sequences. In this paper, we have obtained partial sequences covering three of the known spectral tuning sites in the SWS1 opsin and predicted λmax of all bird species for which the spectral absorbance has been measured using microspectrophotometry. Our results validate the use of molecular data from genomic DNA to predict the gross differences in λmax between the violet- and ultraviolet-sensitive subtypes of SWS1 opsin. Additionally, we demonstrate that a bird, the bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus L., can have more than one SWS1 visual pigment in its retina.

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Abbreviations

λmax :

Wavelength of maximum absorbance

MSP:

Microspectrophotometry

SWS1:

Short-wavelength sensitive type one

SWS2:

Short-wavelength sensitive type two

VS:

Violet sensitive

UVS:

Ultraviolet sensitive

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Acknowledgments

Tissue and DNA samples for this study were kindly provided by Australian Museum, Australian National Wildlife Collection, Borås Zoo, The Burke Museum of Natural History, Department of Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, The Swedish Museum of Natural History, Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Sofia Berlin and Niclas Backström. AÖ was funded by the Swedish Research Council Formas, and Stiftelsen för Zoologisk Forskning (sequencing), NSH by an Australian Research Council QEII Fellowship and OH by the Swedish Research Council (VR). This study complies with the “Principles of animal care”, publication No. 86–23, revised 1985 of the National Institute of Health, and also with current Swedish law.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala, Sweden

    Anders Ödeen

  2. School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Nathan S. Hart

  3. Department of Evolutionary Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, Uppsala, Sweden

    Olle Håstad

Authors
  1. Anders Ödeen
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  2. Nathan S. Hart
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  3. Olle Håstad
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Correspondence to Anders Ödeen.

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Ödeen, A., Hart, N.S. & Håstad, O. Assessing the use of genomic DNA as a predictor of the maximum absorbance wavelength of avian SWS1 opsin visual pigments. J Comp Physiol A 195, 167–173 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-008-0395-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-008-0395-2

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