Characterizing Wavelength-specific Behavior in the Starlet Sea Anemone (Nematostella Vectensis)
Animals have evolved visual sensory systems that use opsin genes, a family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that typically function as light sensors. In vertebrates, opsins are the first step in vision, absorbing light in rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the retina. Opsin proteins absorb and convert light into a biochemical signal. The result is often a behavioral change in response to this signal directly related to its light environment. Investigating the relationship between light detection in opsin proteins and the behavior of animals is important for understanding how the molecules and functions of animal visual systems have evolved. Although the genetics and function of eyes in study systems such as mice and flies have been studied in great depth, we have yet to study visual functions in many non-model and eyeless animals. Looking at the roles of opsins and their behavioral consequences in more species will be crucial in gaining a more cohesive understanding of the evolution of visual systems. The starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis) has been a common eyeless organism used in the study of the evolution of visual systems. Behaviors such as body contractions to a sudden light change in a non-model cnidarian like N. vectensis are unknown in the literature making it essential to study for a comprehensive view of how light influences behavior and physiology. As contractile response behavior is a newly discovered, uncharacterized light behavior in this species, I will characterize contractile response and its connection to opsins.