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Quantitative Models of Phototransduction

  • Conference paper
The Molecular Mechanism of Photoreception

Part of the book series: Dahlem Workshop Reports ((DAHLEM LIFE,volume 34))

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Abstract

Two main subjects of photoreceptor physiology are discussed: a) the properties of the light-sensitive channel, and b) the kinetics of the intervening events between photoisomerization and electrical response. The ionic nature of the photocurrent is discussed and evidence that ions other than Na+ also contribute light-sensitive current in rods is reviewed. Both electrical measurements and determinations with radioactive tracers indicate that K+ and divalent cations permeate through the light-sensitive channel, thus contributing dark current. It is suggested that the light-sensitive channel may exist in three different conductive states which are controlled by both divalent cations and cyclic nucleotides. The cascade model of phototransduction is briefly reviewed and compared with an alternative scheme. The role of cyclic nucleotide metabolism in the phototransductive process is evaluated on the basis of electrical measurements carried out in the presence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors. It is suggested that the hydrolytic activity of phosphodiesterase may be involved in controlling the kinetics of photoresponses by accelerating the flux of cGMP, which in turn may affect all the rate constants of the multistage model. Ca2+ extrusion from the visual cell is considered; we propose that this process may play a role in some of the phenomena associated with light adaptation and be responsible for the recovery of responsiveness during Tight saturation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Fisica, Istituto di Scienze Fisiche, 16146, Genova, Italy

    A. Borsellino & V. Torre

  2. Istituto di Neurofisiologia, CNR, 56100, Pisa, Italy

    L. Cervetto

Authors
  1. A. Borsellino
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  2. L. Cervetto
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  3. V. Torre
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H. Stieve

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© 1986 Dr. S. Bernhard, Dahlem Konferenzen, Berlin

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Borsellino, A., Cervetto, L., Torre, V. (1986). Quantitative Models of Phototransduction. In: Stieve, H. (eds) The Molecular Mechanism of Photoreception. Dahlem Workshop Reports, vol 34. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70444-4_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70444-4_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-70446-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-70444-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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