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Insights into the evolution of photoreceptor oil droplets in frogs and toads

Cervino, Nadia G. LU ; Elias-Costa, Agustín J. ; Iglesias, Patricia P. ; Yovanovich, Carola A.M. LU and Faivovich, Julián (2024) In Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 291(2027).
Abstract

Photoreceptor oil droplets (ODs) are spherical organelles placed most commonly within the inner segment of the cone photoreceptors. Comprising neutral lipids, ODs can be either non-pigmented or pigmented and have been considered optically functional in various studies. Among living amphibians, ODs were only reported to occur in frogs and toads (Anura), while they are absent in salamanders and caecilians. Nonetheless, the limited understanding of their taxonomic distribution in anurans impedes a comprehensive assessment of their evolution and relationship with visual ecology. We studied the retinae of 134 anuran species, extending the knowledge of the distribution of ODs to 46 of the 58 currently recognized families, and providing a new... (More)

Photoreceptor oil droplets (ODs) are spherical organelles placed most commonly within the inner segment of the cone photoreceptors. Comprising neutral lipids, ODs can be either non-pigmented or pigmented and have been considered optically functional in various studies. Among living amphibians, ODs were only reported to occur in frogs and toads (Anura), while they are absent in salamanders and caecilians. Nonetheless, the limited understanding of their taxonomic distribution in anurans impedes a comprehensive assessment of their evolution and relationship with visual ecology. We studied the retinae of 134 anuran species, extending the knowledge of the distribution of ODs to 46 of the 58 currently recognized families, and providing a new perspective on this group that complements the available information from other vertebrates. The occurrence of ODs in anurans shows a strong phylogenetic signal, and our findings revealed that ODs evolved at least six times during the evolutionary history of the group, independently from other vertebrates. Although no evident correlation was found between OD occurrence, adult habits and diel activity, it is inferred that each independent origin involves distinct scenarios in the evolution of ODs concerning photic habits. Furthermore, our results revealed significant differences in the size of the ODs between nocturnal and arrhythmic anurans relative to the length of the cones' outer segment.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Anura, cone photoreceptor, retina, visual ecology
in
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
volume
291
issue
2027
article number
20241388
publisher
Royal Society Publishing
external identifiers
  • pmid:39079666
  • scopus:85200180138
ISSN
0962-8452
DOI
10.1098/rspb.2024.1388
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c859046a-728a-46a3-b708-a3903b4fd74c
date added to LUP
2024-09-13 14:40:27
date last changed
2024-10-11 19:31:27
@article{c859046a-728a-46a3-b708-a3903b4fd74c,
  abstract     = {{<p>Photoreceptor oil droplets (ODs) are spherical organelles placed most commonly within the inner segment of the cone photoreceptors. Comprising neutral lipids, ODs can be either non-pigmented or pigmented and have been considered optically functional in various studies. Among living amphibians, ODs were only reported to occur in frogs and toads (Anura), while they are absent in salamanders and caecilians. Nonetheless, the limited understanding of their taxonomic distribution in anurans impedes a comprehensive assessment of their evolution and relationship with visual ecology. We studied the retinae of 134 anuran species, extending the knowledge of the distribution of ODs to 46 of the 58 currently recognized families, and providing a new perspective on this group that complements the available information from other vertebrates. The occurrence of ODs in anurans shows a strong phylogenetic signal, and our findings revealed that ODs evolved at least six times during the evolutionary history of the group, independently from other vertebrates. Although no evident correlation was found between OD occurrence, adult habits and diel activity, it is inferred that each independent origin involves distinct scenarios in the evolution of ODs concerning photic habits. Furthermore, our results revealed significant differences in the size of the ODs between nocturnal and arrhythmic anurans relative to the length of the cones' outer segment.</p>}},
  author       = {{Cervino, Nadia G. and Elias-Costa, Agustín J. and Iglesias, Patricia P. and Yovanovich, Carola A.M. and Faivovich, Julián}},
  issn         = {{0962-8452}},
  keywords     = {{Anura; cone photoreceptor; retina; visual ecology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2027}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
  series       = {{Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences}},
  title        = {{Insights into the evolution of photoreceptor oil droplets in frogs and toads}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.1388}},
  doi          = {{10.1098/rspb.2024.1388}},
  volume       = {{291}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}