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Ca2+-Channels in the RPE

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Photoreceptors and Calcium

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 514))

Abstract

The retinal pigment epithelium closely interacts with photoreceptors and helps to maintain the activity of photoreceptors. Investigations using patch-clamp techniques on cultured or freshly isolated retinal pigment epithelial cells from various species demonstrated the expression of voltage-dependent Ca2+channels with characteristics of L-type channels. Since retinal pigment epithelial cells rarely display changes of the membrane potential which lead to the activation of these Ca2+channels, their function seemed to be unclear. Recent findings shed light onto the possible role of these Cat+channels. First of all, the subtype of these ion channels could be identified as neuroendocrine subtype of L-type channels. Recent studies demonstrated that the neuroendocrine subtype of L-type channels is regulated by serine/ threonine kinases and protein tyrosine kinases. These phosphorylation-dependent regulatory mechanisms lead to Ca2+fluxes into the cell which are independent of changes in the membrane potential and induced by a shift in the voltage-dependence of these ion channels. The regulation modality implied that L-type Ca2+channels play an important role in signal transduction pathways which are important for a communication between retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors. L-type Ca2+channels in the retinal pigment epithelium seem to be involved in the regulation of secretion of various factors, in growth factor-dependent intracellular signalling and in the regulation of the phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer membranes. Thus, voltage-dependent Ca2+channels in the retinal pigment epithelium are of importance for the function of photoreceptors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Klinische Physiologie, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, 12200, Germany

    Rita Rosenthal & Olaf Strauß

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  1. Rita Rosenthal
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  2. Olaf Strauß
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Moran Eye Center/EIHG, University of Utah Health Science Center, 15 North/ 2030 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112-5330, USA

    Wolfgang Baehr Ph.D.

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Krzysztof Palczewski Ph.D.

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Rosenthal, R., Strauß, O. (2002). Ca2+-Channels in the RPE. In: Baehr, W., Palczewski, K. (eds) Photoreceptors and Calcium. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 514. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0121-3_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0121-3_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4933-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0121-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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