Analysis of photoreceptive ability in mouse brain based on functionally unknown rhodopsin-related proteins

据报道，在哺乳动物和非哺乳类脊椎动物的脑中都发现了一种视蛋白-脑视蛋白的mRNA，因此阐明它是否真的是一种光传感器是有意义的。体外实验表明，脑视素组中的一员可作为光敏感型G蛋白偶联受体。我们成功地制备了在脑视蛋白基因上游调控下表达绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)的转基因小鼠，并在脑细胞中发现了GFP的表达。小鼠可以方便地特异性地分离脑视蛋白表达细胞并鉴定其光敏性。

It was reported that mRNA of an opsin, encephalopsin has been identified in brain of mammalian and non-mammalian vertebrates and therefore it is of interest to elucidate whether it actually serves as a light-sensor. In vitro experiments suggested that a member of encephalopsin group could act as a light-sensing G protein-coupled receptor. We successfully prepared transgenic mice that express green fluorescence protein(GFP) under regulation of upstream of encephalopsin gene and found GFP expression in the brain cells. The mice could facilitate to specifically isolate encephalopsin-expressing cells and characterize its photosensitivity.