Photoreceptor found in worms 50 times better at detecting light rays than human eye
- The LITE-1 photoreceptor lies in the taste receptors of roundworms
- Roundworms have no eyes, they still move away from flashes of light
- The discovery could be used to create more protective sunscreens
Shivali Best For Mailonline
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The modest eyeless roundworm appears to have the remarkable superhero-like ability to taste light.
A new type of cell has been discovered in the taste receptors of these creatures which is about 50 times more efficient at capturing light than the human eye.
Scientists say that the unusual characteristics of the receptor could be used in a range of applications, including creating more effective sunscreens.
It might sound like a power only superheroes could have, but the modest eyeless roundworm has the ability to taste light. A new type of cell has been discovered in the taste receptors of these creatures which is about 50 times more efficient at capturing light than the human eye
THE LITE-1 PHOTORECEPTOR
Animal photoreceptors usually have two components – a base protein, and a light-absorbing chromophore.
When these two components are broken apart (denatured), the chromophore still retains some of its functionality.
But this is not the case for LITE-1, which completely stops its ability to absorb light if the two components are broken apart, showing that it really is a different model.
Looking into this difference in more depth, the researchers determined that within the base protein, having the amino acid, tryptophan, in two places, was critical to its function.
The researchers modified a nonlight-sensitive protein in the same family, GUR-3, to have tryptophan added in the same two places.
This caused the protein to react strongly to UV light.
The discovery was made by an international team of scientists, led by the University of Michigan, who say that their finding is only the third photoreceptor found in animals.
The team has named the new receptor in the nematode roundworms, LITE-1.
Professor Shawn Xu, a senior study author, said: ‘LITE-1 actually comes from a family of taste receptor proteins first discovered in insects.
‘These, however, are not the same taste receptors as in mammals.’
The researchers have previously shown that although they lack eyes, the worms will move away from flashes of light, suggesting they can still sense the stimulus.
Their new study goes one step further, to show that LITE-1 absorbs light, rather than simply sensing it.
Professor Xu said: ‘Photoreceptors convert light into a signal that the body can use.
‘LITE-1 is unusual in that it is extremely efficient at absorbing both UV-A and UV-B light – 10 to 100 times greater than the two other types found in the animal kingdom: opsins and cryptochromes.
‘The next step is to better understand why it has these amazing properties.’
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The researchers believe that their discovery might prove useful in a variety of ways. For example, the researchers said that it might be possible to develop LITE-1 into a sunscreen to absorb harmful rays before they hit the skin
Professor Xu added: ‘Scientists may be able to use similar techniques to genetically engineer other new photoreceptors.’
The researchers believe that their discovery might prove useful in a variety of ways.
For example, in their paper, published in Cell, the researchers said that it might be possible to develop LITE-1 into a sunscreen to absorb harmful rays before they hit the skin.
Alternatively, LITE-1 could be used to foster light sensitivity in new types of cells.
The researchers, led by Professor Shawn Xu, believe that their discovery might prove useful in a variety of ways, including int he development of more protective sunscreen
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