G-Proteins Expressed in the Ocellus of the Hydromedusan, Spirocodon saltatrix.

We have cloned a hydromedusan opsin cDNA and showed that the deduced amino acid sequence of the cytoplasmic loop between helices 5 and 6 (loop 5-6) was clearly different from that reported so far. The amino acid sequence of the loop 5-6 is important on determination of the specificity for the coupled G- protein. To clarify which class of G-protein mediates the phototransduction system in the ocellus of the hydromedusan, we investigated G-proteins expressed in the ocellus. By PCR against the cDNA of the ocellus with primers designed according to the conserved amino acid sequence in G-protein a subunit, we obtained three kinds of cDNA fragments. Based on the sequence similarities, ttwo of them (JGI and JG3) were classified as $G_{i}$ and $G_{q}$, respectively. The other one (JG2) was a new subtype within $G_{*}$ class. Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry with the antiserum against the C-terminal sequence of $G_{q}$ or $G_{t}$ revealed the presence. of the both classes in the ocellus. The similarity of the C-terminal sequence of the JG2 with that of bovine $G_{t}$ suggests that the anti- $G_{t}$ antiserum would bind to JG2. These results suggest the possibility that the hydromedusan rhodopsin decides the specificity for the coupled G-protein by the other domain than the loop 5-6.oop 5-6.5-6.