Chen C K
Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biochemistry, 1101 E. Marshall Street, Rm 2-032, Richmond, 23298-0614 VA, USA.
Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol. 2005;154:101-21. doi: 10.1007/s10254-005-0004-0.
The biochemical cascade which transduces light into a neuronal signal in retinal photoreceptors is a heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G protein) signaling pathway called phototransduction. Works from psychophysicists, electrophysiologists, biochemists, and geneticists over several decades have come together to shape our understanding of how photon absorption leads to photoreceptor membrane hyperpolarization. The insights of phototransduction provide the foundation for a mechanistic account of signaling from many other G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) found throughout nature. The application of reverse genetic techniques has strengthened many historic findings and helped to describe this pathway at greater molecular details. However, many important questions remain to be answered.
在视网膜光感受器中将光转化为神经信号的生化级联反应是一种称为光转导的异源三聚体GTP结合蛋白（G蛋白）信号通路。几十年来，心理物理学家、电生理学家、生物化学家及遗传学家的研究成果共同塑造了我们对于光子吸收如何导致光感受器膜超极化的理解。光转导的相关见解为自然界中发现的许多其他G蛋白偶联受体（GPCR）的信号传导机制解释奠定了基础。反向遗传学技术的应用强化了许多历史性发现，并有助于更详细地描述这一信号通路。然而，许多重要问题仍有待解答。
