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PMID: 10234000 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Encephalopsin: a novel mammalian extraretinal opsin discretely localized in the brain.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience ·Vol. 19 ·No. 10 ·1999-05-15 ·Pages 3681-90

Blackshaw S, Snyder SH

Abstract

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.

MeSH Terms
Amino Acid Sequence Animals Brain/embryology,growth & development,metabolism Cerebellum/chemistry,embryology,growth & development Cloning, Molecular Diencephalon/chemistry,embryology,growth & development Embryonic and Fetal Development/physiology Humans Male Mice Molecular Sequence Data Nerve Tissue Proteins/analysis Rod Opsins/analysis Sequence Homology, Amino Acid Spermatids/chemistry Testis/chemistry,embryology,growth & development
Chemicals
Nerve Tissue Proteins Rod Opsins
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Blackshaw S
The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Departments of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, and Psychiatry, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Snyder S H
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Article Info
Journal
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Abbr.
J Neurosci
ISSN
1529-2401
Published
1999-05-15
Pages
3681-90
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
8102140
PMCID
PMC6782724
Subset
IM
Grants
NIDA NIH HHS · K05 DA000074 · United States
NIDA NIH HHS · DA-00268 · United States
NIDA NIH HHS · DA-00074 · United States
Databases
GENBANK
AF140241, AF140242
External Links
PubMed source PMC Full Text View journal details
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