Sensing calcium in rod cells
Article Abstract:
The explanation of photoexcitation, recovery and adaptation in vertebrate rod and cone photoreceptors is furthered by a finding that the affinity of photoreceptor channels for cGMP is regulated by the calcium-binding protein calmodulin. Numerous reports provide evidence that light-stimulated hydrolysis of cGMP is associated with blocking intracellular influx of sodium and calcium by direct interaction of plasma membrane cation channels and cGMP. Calmodulin may promote recovery by strengthening channel affinity for cGMP.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1993
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Modulation of the cGMP-gated channel of rod photoreceptor cells by calmodulin
Article Abstract:
Calcium plays an important role in photorecovery and light adaptation. It regulates the resynthesis of cyclic GMP by guanylate cyclase and also modulates the cGMP-gated channel in the rod outer segment plasma membrane via reactions involving calmodulin. Calmodulin is a Ca2+-binding protein which functions to increase channel sensitivity to small changes in cGMP concentrations during phototransduction.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1993
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Phospholipids in action
Article Abstract:
Louisa Wu and her co-workers have discovered that the enzyme CDP-DAG synthase (CDS) is essential for the phospholipase C (PLC)-mediated signal transduction. The PLC mediated signalling occurs in eukaryotic cells as a mechanism for intracellular signal transduction. The photoreceptor cell-specific isoform of the CDS causes the regulation of the PLC mediated signal transduction.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1995
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