We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Identification and Characterization of a Rhodopsin Kinase Gene in the Suckers of Octopus vulgaris : Looking around Using Arms?
- Authors
Al-Soudy, Al-Sayed; Maselli, Valeria; Galdiero, Stefania; Kuba, Michael J.; Polese, Gianluca; Di Cosmo, Anna
- Abstract
Simple Summary: Octopus arms are a fascinating and evolutionarily unique sensory organ, with hundreds of motile suckers, each with thousands of sensory cells, lining eight highly flexible arms. Scientifically, there are many open questions regarding the sensory capabilities of the arms and specifically the highly innervated suckers. In our present work, we used a multidisciplinary approach to fully characterize the light-sensing molecule, Ov-GRK1, in the suckers, skin and retina of Octopus vulgaris. We sequenced the O. vulgaris GRK1 gene, defining a phylogenetic tree and performing a 3D structure model prediction. We found differences in the relative expression of mRNA in different sucker types at several locations along the arm, which might indicate a functional difference. Using labeling methods, we localized the expression to the highly sensitive sucker rim. Our findings indicate that octopus suckers, in specific areas of the arm, might have the ability for light sensing. We therefore suggest that suckers are tactile, chemical and light sensors. In their foraging behavior octopuses rely on arm search movements outside the visual field of the eyes. In these movements the environment is explored primarily by the suckers that line the entire length of the octopus arm. In this study, for the first time, we report the complete characterization of a light-sensing molecule, Ov-GRK1, in the suckers, skin and retina of Octopus vulgaris. We sequenced the O. vulgaris GRK1 gene, defining a phylogenetic tree and performing a 3D structure model prediction. Furthermore, we found differences in relative mRNA expression in different sucker types at several arm levels, and localized it through in situ hybridization. Our findings suggest that the suckers in octopus arms are much more multimodal than was previously shown, adding the potential for light sensing to the already known mechanical and chemical sensing abilities.
- Subjects
COMMON octopus; GENE expression; RHODOPSIN; FORAGING behavior; CHEMICAL detectors; IN situ hybridization
- Publication
Biology (2079-7737), 2021, Vol 10, Issue 9, p936
- ISSN
2079-7737
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/biology10090936