Signal amplification: let's turn down the lights.
G protein activation by membrane-bound receptors initiates a chain reaction that amplifies cellular responses to external signals. In retinal photoreceptors, amplification by the phototransduction cascade is regulated by quickly switching off the visual pigment that acts as the receptor for light.
Lagnado
Leon
L
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK. LL1@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk
D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015293:Transducin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014785:Vision, Ocular
D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D015293:Transducin