• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.278-280
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• 2002

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.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2004

Some hydromedusae were collected from the coasts of Seogwipo(Jejudo Island), Hoenggando Island and Ilsanhaesuyokjang(Ulsan), Korea on July 11, 1985; July 23, 1990 and July 16, 1994. They were identified into Aequorea coerulescens (Brandt, 1838) of the order Leptomedusae, and Physalia physalis utriculus La Martiniere, 1829 of the Siphonophora, respectively. The unique morphological characteristics of A. coerulescens are smooth even surface of exumbrella, large mouth with 60 highly fringed oral lobes, shallow stomach, 120 simple radial canals and flat beret-shaped bell. In P. physalis utriculus its morphological characteristics are a triangular large pneumatophore with very low or rudimentary crest, a ribbon like long slender main tentacle, siphon-shaped gastrozooid with mouth, finger-shaped dactylozooid and branched gonozooid with gonophores. P. physalia. utriculus is the Pacific form and distinguished from the Atlantic form, P. p. physalis which has a much larger pneumatophore with high crest, numerous large main tentacles, and compact arrangement of basal and ventral cormidia. As a result of this work the Korean hydromedusan fauna consists of 15 species of five orders.