Thermal activation of the visual transduction mechanism in retinal rods [16]

K. W. Yau; G. Matthews; D. A. Baylor

doi:10.1038/279806a0

Thermal activation of the visual transduction mechanism in retinal rods [16]

K. W. Yau, G. Matthews, D. A. Baylor

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

Abstract

INVERTEBRATE photoreceptors show electrical changes which apparently result from isomerisation of single rhodopsin molecules by light or thermal energy^1-3. Observation of corresponding phenomena in vertebrates has been prevented by intercellular electrical coupling, which averages membrane potential over many photoreceptors^4-6. Recently, however, recordings of membrane current from individual rod outer segments have revealed responses to single photons^7,8. Here we report that similar electrical events occasionally occur in darkness, perhaps because of thermal isomerisation of rhodopsin.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	806-807
Number of pages	2
Journal	Nature
Volume	279
Issue number	5716
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/279806a0
State	Published - Dec 1 1979
Externally published	Yes

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N2 - INVERTEBRATE photoreceptors show electrical changes which apparently result from isomerisation of single rhodopsin molecules by light or thermal energy1-3. Observation of corresponding phenomena in vertebrates has been prevented by intercellular electrical coupling, which averages membrane potential over many photoreceptors4-6. Recently, however, recordings of membrane current from individual rod outer segments have revealed responses to single photons7,8. Here we report that similar electrical events occasionally occur in darkness, perhaps because of thermal isomerisation of rhodopsin.

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