title: Phototransduction and calcium.
abstract: In the early 1970s it became clear that an unknown intracellular messenger participated in signal transduction in retinal rod cells. Ca2+ and cGMP had been considered as candidates for such a messenger until 1985 when the cGMP-gated conductance of the plasma membrane was discovered. However, for the last several years, Ca2+ has taken revenge as a signal molecule which contributed to the processes underlying the photoreceptor cell recovery. This review describes the overall picture of phototransduction molecular mechanisms with special emphasis on participation of Ca2+ in visual cell signalling.
authors.affiliation: Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Russia. ppph@genebee.msu.su
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Philippov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000502:physiology*; D005136:Eye Proteins; D051597:Hippocalcin; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008954:Models, Biological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D051603:Recoverin; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology; D014785:Vision, Ocular
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008074:Lipoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C496731:RCVRN protein, human; D051603:Recoverin; D051597:Hippocalcin; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D002118:Calcium