Shedding Light on Patterns of Unconventional Expression of Opsin Genes in Hydra vulgaris.

ABSTRACT: Opsins are G-protein-coupled receptors often expressed in neuronal photoreceptor cells and used for light detection in most animals, including cnidarians like corals, jellyfish, and anemones. Opsins may also be expressed in non-neuronal cell types, where they may confer light sensitivity. For example, opsins might be involved in pre-neural phototaxis of larval box jellyfish. However, the overall extent of non-neuronal expression of opsins is not well understood, despite the potential for identifying additional light or opsin-mediated organismal functions. To investigate the prevalence of non-neuronal opsin expression in a cnidarian, we analyzed published data from Hydra vulgaris, a freshwater hydroid that responds to light despite lacking distinct photosensory structures such as eyes. We q

SUBMITTER: Stoilova MI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12464818 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature