title: Visual transduction in rod outer segments.
abstract: The visual transduction cascade of the retinal rod outer segment responds to light by decreasing membrane current. This ion channel is controlled by cyclic GMP which is, in turn, controlled by its synthesis and degradation by guanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase, respectively. When light bleaches rhodopsin there is an induced exchange of GTP for GDP bound to the alpha subunit of the retinal G-protein, transducin (T). The T alpha.GTP then removes the inhibitory constraint of a small inhibitory subunit (PDE gamma) on the retinal cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE). This results in activation of the PDE and in hydrolysis of cGMP. Recently both low and high affinity binding sites have been identified for PDE gamma on the PDE alpha/beta catalytic subunits. The discovery of two PDE gamma subunits, each with different binding affinities, suggests that a tightly regulated shut-off mechanism may be present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Takemoto
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cunnick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D008954:Models, Biological; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012374:Rod Cell Outer Segment / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015293:Transducin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments; D012243:Rhodopsin; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D015293:Transducin