Zimmerman W F, Goldsmith T H
Science. 1971 Mar 19;171(3976):1167-9. doi: 10.1126/science.171.3976.1167.
Drosophila melanogaster was raised on aseptic diets, with and without beta-carotene. The sensitivity of visual receptors in the carotenoid-depleted flies was lowered 3 log units, but the photosensitivity of the circadian rhythm was not affected. This result suggests that the chromophore of the photopigment which mediates light effects on the circadian rhythm is not a carotenoid derivative.
黑腹果蝇饲养于无菌饮食环境中，一组饮食含β-胡萝卜素，另一组不含。类胡萝卜素缺乏的果蝇视觉感受器的敏感性降低了3个对数单位，但昼夜节律的光敏感性未受影响。这一结果表明，介导光对昼夜节律影响的光色素发色团不是类胡萝卜素衍生物。
