Studies of the Drosophila norpA phototransduction mutant. II. Photoreceptor degeneration and rhodopsin maintenance

The norpA super(H44) phototransduction mutant of Drosophila melanogaster , an allele that, on eclosion, does not exhibit a receptor potential was found, at later ages, to undergo light and temperature dependent degeneration of its photoreceptors as well as decreases in rhodopsin concentration. The data suggest that the processes that affect phototransduction, such as the phosphatidylinositol cycle, have a long-term role in the maintenance of rhodopsin concentration and photoreceptor integrity.