Elucidation of the visual cycle in the insect retina

昆虫视网膜中视觉发色团的代谢途径已被研究，特别关注以下主题：（1）通过光将全反式维甲酸异构化为11-顺式形式的蛋白质的鉴定，以及（2）半代谢昆虫中发色团的代谢途径。本项目的研究已经阐明，先前被鉴定为视网膜特异性氧化还原酶的PDH是类维生素A光异构酶的强有力的候选者。此外，对蟋蟀适应光和暗的视网膜中类维生素A成分的HPLC分析揭示了它们的视觉周期和参与该周期的一种新蛋白质。

The metabolic pathway of visual chromophore in the insect retina has been investigated with particular focus on the following subjects, (1) identification of the protein that isomerizes all-trans retinoid to 11-cis form by light, and (2) metabolic pathway of the chromophore in the hemimetabolous insect. Researches in this project have elucidated that PDH, previously identified as a retina-specific oxidoreductase, is a strong candidate for a retinoid photoisomerase. In addition, HPLC-analyses of retinoid compositions in the light- and dark-adapted retinas of crickets uncovered their visual cycle and a novel protein involved in the cycle.