Connexin36 forms synapses essential for night vision.
Rod signals reach ganglion cells via at least five pathways. A new study in this issue of Neuron shows that all pathways from rods to ON-type ganglion cells require connexin36. This is the first physiological demonstration in mammals that a well-defined neural circuit requires a gap junction as an obligatory transmission step.
Demb
Jonathan B
JB
Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Pugh
Edward N
EN
D000818:Animals; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003623:Dark Adaptation / Q000502:physiology*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D000097004:Gap Junction delta-2 Protein
D017630:Connexins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D000097004:Gap Junction delta-2 Protein