Transmembrane channel formation in rhodopsin-containing bilayer membranes.
Rhodopsin has been incorporated into planar lipid bilayer membranes. The effect of light is to increase the bilayer permeability in a pattern consistent with the formation of a transmembrane channel of about 10 A diameter. A model of visual excitation based on a light-activated and voltage-sensitive channel is presented.
D001692:Biological Transport; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008954:Models, Biological; D010539:Permeability; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012168:Retinal Pigments; D012243:Rhodopsin; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D014785:Vision, Ocular
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012168:Retinal Pigments; D012243:Rhodopsin; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium