Immunocytochemical localization of a rhodopsin-like protein in the lipochondria in photosensitive neurons of Aplysia californica

• Published in: Cell and tissue research Vol. 244; no. 1; pp. 115 - 120
• Main Authors: ROBLES, L. J, BRENEMAN, J. W, ANDERSON, E. O, NOTTOLI, V. A, KEGLER, L. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-01-1986
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Antibody Specificity; Aplysia - cytology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Central Nervous System - ultrastructure; Collodion; Decapodiformes - immunology; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Exact sciences and technology; Eye Proteins - immunology; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Histocytochemistry; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Inclusion Bodies - analysis; Invertebrates; Lipids - analysis; Microscopy, Electron; Mollusca; Neurons - ultrastructure; Other techniques and industries; Physiology. Development; Retinal Pigments - isolation & purification; Rhodopsin - isolation & purification; Rhodopsin - physiology; Rod Opsins; Marine environment; Photosensitivity; Rhodopsin; Transmission electron microscopy; Neuron; Aplysia californica; Immunocytochemistry; Ultrastructure; Gastropoda; Invertebrata; Mollusca
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00218388
• EISSN: 1432-0878
• ISSN: 0302-766X

Polyclonal antibodies directed against squid opsin were used in immunocytochemical and immunoblot experiments to identify a rhodopsin-like protein in photosensitive neurons of Aplysia. Aldehyde-fixed abdominal and cerebral ganglia were embedded in paraffin for peroxidase anti-peroxidase analysis or used whole for immunofluorescence studies. Ganglia were embedded in Lowicryl K4M for electron-microscope immunocytochemistry. In both the cerebral and abdominal ganglia, light-microscope immunocytochemical results showed reaction product deposited around the neuronal cell periphery corresponding in position to the lipochondria. In the abdominal ganglion, the giant cell R2, located in the right rostral quarter, and neurons in the right caudal quarter were consistently labeled with anti-opsin. Electron-microscopic studies demonstrated ferritin-labeling of the lipochondria in R2 and other immunoreactive neurons. Immunoblot analysis of R2 and cerebral neuron extracts was used to identify two prominent immunoreactive protein bands at 85 000 and 67 500 molecular weight.