Biochemistry of Visual Systems Dr. Kinde Flashcards
This cell has rhodopsin and high sensitivity with a low spatial resolution. It can respond to one photon. What is it?
Rods
This cell has three opsins and low sensitivity with high spatial resolution. It will respond to 100 photons. What is it?
Cones
What are the similarities between rods and cones?j
Both have an inner segment, outer segment and a synaptic terminal
Describe why rods have high sensitivity.
- Many rods can converge onto one bipolar cell which will contact one ganglion cell
- High convergence for high sensitivity but low resolution
Descsribe why cones have high resolution
- One cone converges on only one bipolar cell which connects to one ganglion cell
- allows for high resolution but low sensitivity
What is found in the GPCR system of the disc membranes of the outer segments?
- Opsins
- Tranducin (the G protein)
- cGMP phosphodiesterase (effector protein- produces GMP)
What channel is found on the outer membrane of the outer segment of rods and cones and how does it work? (in light and dark)
- cGMP gated sodium channels
- In the dark the cGMP gated sodium channel is open allowing Na to flow in
- In light, when activated, it closes
Beta Arrestin?
- Desensitization protein it allows for signal termination by blocking interaction of rhodopsin with transducin
Rhodopsin kinase?
Desensitization protein that phosphorylates rhodopsin which is the first step in signal termination
In the dark what happens to photoreceptors?
They are inactive!
- cGMP gated Na channels are open and the cell is depolarized
- depolarization allows for release of glutamate
- glu is inhibitory when released to bipolar cells
In the light what happens to photoreceptors?
They are active!
- The light bleaches the rhodopsin molecules
- Na channels are closed and the cell hyperpolarizes due to rapid hydrolysis of cGMP
- Glutamate is not released in a high concentration
Describe the structure of Rhodopsin and significance of a shiff base
- Homologous to B-adrenergic rececptor
- Lysine296 covalently bound to 11-retinal
- Aldehyde of retinal forms a shiff base with amine of lysine
- the protonated schiff base allows for the base to absorb light over 440nm
- free retinal only absorbs 370nm
- unprotonated schiff base only 380 nm
What happens to 11-cis-retinal when it reacts with photons?
Photon induced isomerization occurs
- 11-cis-retinal isomerizes to 11-trans-retinal
- Not ligand binding but energy induced
What chromosomes can you find the opsin proteins for Rods, blue, red, and green?
- Rods: chromosome 3
- Blue 7
- Red and Green are X chromosome
Describe the signal transduction process in the outer membrane of a disc in a rod in presence of light.
- Photons interact with retinal in the photorreceptor and isomerizes to 11 trans retinal activating rhodopsin
- *R makes repeated contacts with transducin molecules activating *G by releaseing GDP for GTP causing the dissosciation of the beta and gamma subunits from the alpha
- *G binds inhibitory gamma subunits of PDE activating its alpha and beta subunits
- Activated PDE hydrolyzes cGMP causing sodium channels to close and hyperpolarization of the cell occurs
- GC synthesizes cGMP this results in decreased levels of cytosolic cGMP causing the cGMP gated channels to close not allowing na and ca in
- as ca levels drop the release of NT glutamate also decreases