Spectral sensitivities and photopigments in adaptation of fly visual receptors

Abstract
Chromatic adaptation and receptor-deficient mutants were used to systemically eliminate specific receptor function to provide the 1st complete spectral sensitivity and photopigment characteristic data of all 3 receptor types (R1-6, R7 and R8) in Drosophila compound eyes. Different fly genera had different adaptation responses which allowed characterization of photopigment spectra. Drosophila mutants with anomalous excitation revealed mechanisms coupling photopigment activation with receptor excitation.