[Function of the calcium-binding protein p26 (recoverin) in bovine retinal rods]

The bovine retina rod cell protein with an apparent M(r) 26 kDa (p26 [1] or recoverin [2]) was suggested to be a calcium-sensitive regulator of photoreceptor guanylate cyclase. The data obtained show that highly purified p26 is not capable of restoring guanylate cyclase in washed ROS membranes up to the level of a ROS suspension. At the same time we found that a Ca(2+)-sensitive complex of p26 and a protein with apparent M(r) 67 kDa, presumably rhodopsin kinase, is present in the ROS extract. We suggest that rhodopsin kinase can be a functional target for p26 in retina rod cells.