CELL SCIENCE AT A GLANCE Photoreceptors at a glance
نویسندگان
چکیده
Retinal photoreceptor cells contain a specialized outer segment (OS) compartment that functions in the capture of light and its conversion into electrical signals in a process known as phototransduction. In rods, photoisomerization of 11-cis to all-trans retinal within rhodopsin triggers a biochemical cascade culminating in the closure of cGMPgated channels and hyperpolarization of the cell. Biochemical reactions return the cell to its ‘dark state’ and the visual cycle converts all-trans retinal back to 11-cis retinal for rhodopsin regeneration. OS are continuously renewed, with aged membrane removed at the distal end by phagocytosis and newmembrane added at the proximal end through OS disk morphogenesis linked to protein trafficking. Themolecular basis for disk morphogenesis remains to be defined in detail although several models have been proposed, and molecular mechanisms underlying protein trafficking are under active investigation. The aim of this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster is to highlight our current understanding of photoreceptor structure, phototransduction, the visual cycle, OS renewal, protein trafficking and retinal degenerative diseases.
منابع مشابه
Cancer metastasis at a glance: A brief view of Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis
Cancer initiation and progression is a challenging scenario through developmental processes, which may be more complicated by occurrence of metastasis. Basically, diverse genetic alterations, including mutations, formation of truncated proteins and related pathways play key roles either in diagnosis or the most influential therapeutic purposes. ...
متن کاملA Glance at Psychophysics Software Programs
Visual stimulation with precise control of stimulus has transformed the field of psychophysics since the introduction of personal computers. Luminance and chromatic features of stimulus, timing, and position of the stimulus are the main features that could be defined using programs written specifically for psychophysical experiments. In this manuscript, software used for the psychophysical expe...
متن کاملCancer metastasis at a glance: A brief view of Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis
Cancer initiation and progression is a challenging scenario through developmental processes, which may be more complicated by occurrence of metastasis. Basically, diverse genetic alterations, including mutations, formation of truncated proteins and related pathways play key roles either in diagnosis or the most influential therapeutic purposes. ...
متن کامل