Keeping the balance.
How we see our environment is the result of a multi-level, parallel processing effort by the central nervous system. This computation is initiated within the retina at the very first synapse in the visual pathway - the photoreceptor ribbon synapse. Two recent studies shed light on the critical role of balanced calcium channel activity in maturation of this highly specialized synapse. (1, 2.)
Max-Planck Institute for Brain Research; Synaptic Plasticity Department; Frankfurt, Germany.
Susanne
S
Tom Dieck
D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D015785:Eye Diseases, Hereditary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D040181:Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009755:Night Blindness / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*
C480684:Cacna1f protein, mouse; D015220:Calcium Channels; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type
CSNB2; Cacna1f; L-type voltage-gated calcium channel; congenital stationary night blindness; photoreceptor; ribbon synapse; synapse maturation