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Phosphorylation of rhodopsin as a possible mechanism of adaptation

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Abstract

Light-induced phosphorylation of rhodopsin has been extensively studied by a number of investigators from a biochemical point of view. However, little is known about the physiological function of this reaction. The slow rates measured for phosphorylation and dephosphorylation suggest that it may be involved in visual adaptation rather than in excitation. This paper presents biochemical data obtained from phosphorylation experiments in isolated photoreceptor membranes as well as in the more physiological system of whole retinas and living animals. An attempt is made to compare the phosphorylation reaction with visual adaptation hypotheses taken from the electrophysiological literature. Finally, effects of cyclic nucleotide metabolism on the sensitivity of photoreceptors are presented and discussed.

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Abbreviations

ATP:

adenosine 5′-triphosphate

GTP:

guanosine 5′-triphosphate

ROS:

rod outer segments

IBMX:

isobutylmethylxanthine

cyclic GMP:

guanosine 3′, 5′-monophosphate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Neurobiologie, Kernforschungsanlage Jülich GmbH, P.O.B. 1913, D-5170, Jülich 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    Hermann Kühn, J. Hugh McDowell, Karl -Heinz Leser & Susanne Bader

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  1. Hermann Kühn
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  2. J. Hugh McDowell
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  3. Karl -Heinz Leser
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  4. Susanne Bader
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Kühn, H., McDowell, J.H., Leser, K.H. et al. Phosphorylation of rhodopsin as a possible mechanism of adaptation. Biophys. Struct. Mechanism 3, 175–180 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00535815

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00535815

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