Related Experiment Videos
Mechanisms of long-term dark adaptation
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Long-term dark adaptation involves signals from bleached photopigments regulating an allosteric protein. This protein controls light-sensitive channels in photoreceptors, with effector and bleached photopigment concentrations being inversely related.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Photoreceptor Physiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Long-term dark adaptation is hypothesized to be regulated by bleaching signals.
- These signals are thought to control an allosteric, positively cooperative protein.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the role of bleached photopigment signals in controlling dark adaptation.
- To explore the involvement of an allosteric protein in photoreceptor function.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical evidence analysis.
- Theoretical discussion of molecular mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Biochemical data support the role of a homo-oligomeric, allosteric, positively cooperative protein.
- This protein is identified as a primary regulator of light-sensitive channels in photoreceptor outer segments.
Conclusions:
- Bleached photopigment signals may regulate dark adaptation via an allosteric protein in the plasma membrane.
- The concentrations of bleached photopigment and the allosteric effector are proposed to be reciprocal.