Fluorescence Spectra of Blowfly Metaxanthopsins

The main visual pigment of blowflies (xanthopsin) photoconverts into two thermostable metaxanthopsin states M and M’. The fluorescence spectra of the two photoproducts were studied by microspectrofluorometry in vivo. The emission spectra of M and M’ are very similar and peak at 660 nm. The excitation spectra of M and M' have peak wavelengths at λmax ≈ 584 nm and ≈ 568 nm respectively.