Microscopic and biochemical characterization of lectin binding sites in the cephalopod retina

Identification and immunolocalization of actin cytoskeletal components in light- and dark-adapted octopus retinas

Photoreceptors in the octopus retina are of the rhabdomeric type, with rhabdomeres arising from the plasma membrane on opposite sides of the cylindrical outer segment. Each rhabdomere microvillus has an actin filament core, but other actin-binding proteins have not been identified. We used immunoblotting techniques to identify actin-binding proteins in octopus retinal extracts and immunofluorescence microscopy to localize the same proteins in fixed tissue. Antibodies directed against alpha-actinin and vinculin recognized single protein bands on immunoblots of octopus retinal extract with molecular weights comparable to the same proteins in other tissues. Anti-filamin identified two closely spaced bands similar in molecular weight to filamin in other species. Antibodies to the larger of the Drosophila ninaC gene products, p174, identified two bands lower in molecular weight than p174. Anti-villin localized a band that was significantly less in molecular weight than villin found in other cells. Epifluorescence and confocal microscopy were used to map the location of the same actin-binding proteins in dark- and light-adapted octopus photoreceptors and other retinal cells. Antibodies to most of the actin-binding proteins showed heavy staining of the photoreceptor proximal/supportive cell region accompanied by rhabdom membrane and rhabdom tip staining, although subtle differences were detected with individual antibodies. In dark-adapted retinas anti-alpha-actinin stained the photoreceptor proximal/supportive cell region where an extensive junctional complex joins these two cell types, but in the light, immunoreactivity extended above the junctional complex into the rhabdom bases. Most antibodies densely stained the rhabdom tips but anti-villin exhibited a striated pattern of localization at the tips. We believe that the actin-binding proteins identified in the octopus retina may play a significant role in the formation of new rhabdomere microvilli in the dark. We speculate that these proteins and actin remain associated with an avillar membrane that connects opposing sets of rhabdomeres in light-adapted retinas. Association of these cytoskeletal proteins with the avillar membrane would constitute a pool of proteins that could be recruited for rapid microvillus formation from the previously avillar region.

Retinoid cycling proteins redistribute in light-/dark-adapted octopus retinas

In cephalopods, the complex rhodopsin-retinochrome system serves to regenerate metarhodopsin and metaretinochrome after illumination. In the dark, a soluble protein, retinal-binding protein (RALBP), shuttles 11-cis retinal released from metaretinochrome located in the photoreceptor inner segments to metarhodopsin present in the rhabdoms. While in the rhabdoms, RALBP delivers 11-cis retinal to regenerate rhodopsin and in turn binds the all-trans isomer released by metarhodopsin. RALBP then returns all-trans retinal to the inner segments to restore retinochrome. The conventional interpretation of retinoid cycling is contradicted by immunocytochemical studies showing that, in addition to rhodopsin, retinochrome is present in the rhabdomal compartment, making possible the direct exchange of chromophores between the metapigments with the potential exclusion of RALBP. By using immunofluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy, we have precisely located opsin, aporetinochrome, and RALBP in light-/dark-adapted octopus retinas. We found differences in the distribution of all three proteins throughout the retina. Most significantly, comparison of cross sections though light- and dark-adapted rhabdoms showed a dramatic shift in position of the proteins. In the dark, opsin and retinochrome colocalized at the base of the rhabdomal microvilli. In the light, opsin redistributed along the length of the microvillar membranes, and retinochrome retreated to a location that is perhaps extracellular. RALBP was present in the core cytoplasm of the photoreceptor outer segments in the dark, and RALBP moved to the periphery in the light. Because of the colocalization of opsin and retinochrome in the dark, we believe that the two metapigments participate directly in chromophore exchange. RALBP may serve to transport additional chromophore from the inner segments to the rhabdoms and may not be immediately involved in the exchange process.

Distribution of three retinal proteins in developing octopus photoreceptors

The expression of proteins unique to plasma membrane domains of developing photoreceptors is used as a marker for retinal differentiation in vertebrates. Invertebrate photoreceptors are also compartmentalized, but little information is available on the development of these compartments or the expression of retinal proteins specific to these cellular regions. Using routine electron microscopy techniques, we have made observations on the formation of photoreceptor organelles, including myeloid bodies and rhabdomeres, in embryonic octopus eyes from an early stage in development through hatching. Immunocytochemical experiments on the embryos demonstrate a timed expression of three retinal proteins during development, and the early separation of the octopus photoreceptor plasma membrane into distinct domains. Using polyclonal antibodies for opsin, retinochrome and retinal binding protein we have shown that opsin appears first and is confined to the distal end of the photoreceptor that will eventually differentiate into rhabdomeres. This membrane domain is separated from the proximal/inner segment plasma membrane by a septate junction. Retinochrome is expressed later when the myeloid bodies appear in the inner segments, and retinal binding protein is apparently not synthesized until sometime after hatching. These results suggest that, in the cephalopod retina, protein components of the retinoid cycling apparatus appear in a specific developmental sequence during the differentiation of this tissue.

Immunocytochemical localization of retinal binding protein in the octopus retina: a shuttle protein for 11-cis retinal

The cephalopod retina contains two photopigments that are spatially separated within the photoreceptors; rhodopsin, localized in the light-sensitive rhabdoms, and retinochrome, present in the myeloid bodies of the photoreceptor inner segments. In the light, the chromophore of retinochrome, all-trans retinal, is photoisomerized to 11-cis to form metaretinochrome. Metaretinochrome is believed to serve as a store for 11-cis retinal used in the regeneration or biosynthesis of rhodopsin. Previous studies suggest that a soluble retinal binding protein (RALBP) serves as a shuttle between retinochrome and rhodopsin, and, in the dark, may transport chromophore from the myeloid bodies to the rhabdoms. Our study supports this hypothesis and demonstrates that RALBP is in the correct cellular locations to function as a shuttle. Dark- and light-adapted octopus retinas were labeled with anti-RALBP using immunofluorescence and immunogold techniques. Our results showed that RALBP was distributed differently in the dark- and light-adapted retinas. Our most significant observation was that myeloid bodies from light-adapted retinas were more heavily labeled by anti-RALBP than myeloid bodies in dark-adapted retinas. The rhabdomeres, interphotoreceptor matrix, and inner limiting membrane were also labeled in both light and dark conditions. Based on these results and evidence from previous biochemical studies, we conclude that in the dark RALBP leaves the myeloid bodies and transports 11-cis retinal to the rhabdoms where chromophore exchange with metarhodopsin may occur.