RELATED MOLECULAR AND PHYSIOLOGICAL EVENTS IN VISION

该研究计划的总体目标是阐明分子 在生物系统中很重要的机制。该系统是 研究的是脊椎动物的光感受器。这项研究的一个主要重点 计划是将电生理、代谢、生化和 视紫红质研究提供了对视紫红质功能的了解 脊椎动物的光感受器。该方法的独特之处在于 应用于研究系统和使用的技术，当 可能的，切除的视网膜是生理活跃的。一项研究是 关于cGMP在脊椎动物光感受器中的作用。作为……的重要组成部分 本研究利用灌流液的化学变化来改变cGMP 光感受器的浓度在正常生理极限和 对其电生理和代谢后果进行了研究。 另一项研究是能量消耗过程在功能中的作用 光感受器的。在本研究的一个方面中，各种离子和 抑制剂被用来改变光感受器和 电池的功能和耗氧量特性。另一个领域 研究视紫红质的反应和构象变化。这个 视紫红质在光解过程中的构象变化 这些构象变化的机制和视紫红质的作用 在光感受器的功能和维持中有一些 正在处理的问题。果蝇的光转导突变体是 也用于研究光感受器的功能。使用Single 果蝇的基因损伤，对单个个体有主要影响 多肽，就有可能观察到 光传导过程和负责维护的过程 细胞的视紫红质浓度和结构完整性。在……里面 除了提供有关细胞相互作用的信息外，这种基因 该方法可用于识别 光传导过程。

The overall objective of the research program is to elucidate molecular mechanisms which are important in biological systems. The system being studied is the vertebrate photoreceptor. A major emphasis of the research plan is to combine electrophysiological, metabolic, biochemical and rhodopsin studies to provide some understanding of the functioning of the vertebrate photoreceptor. The uniqueness of the approach is the variety of techniques which are applied to studies of the system and the use, when possible, of excised retinas which are physioloically active. One study is on the role of cGMP in the vertebrate photoreceptor. As a major part of this study a chemical change of the perfusate is used to alter the cGMP concentration of the photoreceptor wihtin normal physiological limits and its electrophysiological and metabolic consequences are investigated. Another study is the role of energy consuming processes in the functioning of the photoreceptor. In one aspect of this study various ions and inhibitors are used to alter the ATP concentration of the photoreceptor and the functional and oxygen consumption properties of the cell. Another area of study are the reactions and conformation changes of rhodopsin. The conformation changes of rhodopsin during its photolysis, the molecular mechanisms involved in these conformation changes and the role of rhodopsin in the functioning and maintenance of the photoreceptor are some of the questions being approached. Phototransduction mutants of Drosophila are also used to study the functioning of the photoreceptors. Using single gene lesions of Drosophila, which have their primary effect on a single polypeptide, it is possible to observe interactions between the phototransduction process and the processes responsible for the maintenance of the rhodopsin concentration and sturctural integrity of the cell. In addition to providing information on cellular interactions, this genetic approach may be usable to identify unknown components in the phototransduction process.