ABSTRACT
The long-wavelength sensitive (red) opsin genes encode proteins which play a central role in daytime and color vision in vertebrates. We used transgenic Xenopus to identify 5' cis-elements in the red cone opsin promoter necessary for cone-specific expression. We found a highly conserved extended region (-725 to -173) that was required for restricting GFP transgene expression to cones. We further identified a short element (5'-CCAATTAAGAGAT-3') highly conserved amongst tetrapods, including humans, necessary to restrict expression to cones in the retina. These results identify novel conserved elements that regulate spatial expression of tetrapod red cone opsin genes.
Subject(s)
Enhancer Elements, Genetic , Gene Expression Regulation , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells , Rod Opsins/genetics , 5' Flanking Region , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Animals, Genetically Modified , Conserved Sequence , Xenopus laevisABSTRACT
Relationships between coping style and psychological functioning were examined in a heterogeneous community sample (N = 168). Psychological functioning was categorized with the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991). Subjects were assigned to PAI configural profile clusters, using T-scores from PAI clinical scales. Three PAI clusters were prominent in this sample: normal, anxious, and eccentric. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that these clusters differed significantly in coping style, as measured by the dispositional format of the COPE Inventory (Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989). Normals coped through avoidance significantly less than anxious or eccentric subjects. Also, normals engaged in seeking social support and venting more than eccentric but less than anxious subjects. Gender differences also were noted, with women more likely to cope by seeking social support and men more likely to cope through hedonistic escapism.
