| Budget Amount *help |
¥47,320,000 (Direct Cost: ¥36,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥10,920,000)
Fiscal Year 2015: ¥11,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥9,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,700,000)
Fiscal Year 2014: ¥11,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥9,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,700,000)
Fiscal Year 2013: ¥23,920,000 (Direct Cost: ¥18,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥5,520,000)
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Animal photoreceptor proteins, opsins, have been widely diversified to acquire various new physiological functions in the course of molecular evolution. In this study, we have investigated the molecular properties of opsins in Opn5 group, one of the opsin groups that was most recently discovered in mammals, and found that they were diversified into not only UV- and visible-light absorbing receptors but also a reverse photoreceptor that loses G protein activation activity by light. We have also investigated localizations of Opn5 in eyes and brain and explored their functions by generating knock-out medaka fishes. The results indicated that some of the Opn5 subgroups would be responsible for uncharacterized physiological functions. Furthermore, we have investigated the molecular properties of opsins diversified in the vertebrate visual opsin group to obtain insights into molecular mechanisms underlying diversification in Opn5 group.
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