Analysis on the molecular mechanisms of wider dynamic range and higher time-resolution in cone photoreceptor cells.

在脊椎动物视网膜中，有两种类型的感光细胞，称为视杆细胞和视锥细胞。视锥视觉的时间分辨率高于视杆视觉。这种较高的时间分辨率取决于锥体的较短响应。我们还知道，锥体可以调节的光强范围比杆状的要宽。在这项研究中，研究了锥体特异性反应的潜在机制。结果表明，作用于光传导机制的激活酶在锥体中的寿命比在杆状中的短。研究还表明，光转导机制中的酶活性在锥体中比在杆状中受到更高的调控。这些发现显示了锥体特异性光反应的分子基础。

In vertebrate retina, there are two types of photoreceptor cells, called rods and cones. The time resolution of cone mediated vision is higher than that of rod-mediated vision. This higher time-resolution depends on shorter responses of cones. It is also known that the range of light-intensity that cone can mediate is wider than that of rod. In this study, the underlying mechanisms of cone-specific responses are studied. The results show that the lifetime of activated enzymes, working in the phototransduction mechanism, are shorter in cones than in rods. And It is also revealed that the enzymatic activities in the phototransduction mechanism are more highly modulated in cones than in rods. These findings show molecular bases of the cone specific photoresponses.