Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2014 Apr;27:32-43. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2013.11.001. Epub 2013 Nov 28.
The past decade has witnessed an impressive expansion of our knowledge of retinal photoreceptor signal transduction and the regulation of the visual cycle required for normal eyesight. Progress in human genetics and next generation sequencing technologies have revealed the complexity behind many inherited retinal diseases. Structural studies have markedly increased our understanding of the visual process. Moreover, technical innovations and improved methodologies in proteomics, macromolecular crystallization and high resolution imaging at different levels set the scene for even greater advances. Pharmacology combined with structural biology of membrane proteins holds great promise for developing innovative accessible therapies for millions robbed of their sight or progressing toward blindness.
过去十年，我们对视网膜光感受器信号转导以及正常视力所需的视觉循环调控的认识有了令人瞩目的扩展。人类遗传学和下一代测序技术的进步揭示了许多遗传性视网膜疾病背后的复杂性。结构研究极大地提高了我们对视觉过程的理解。此外，蛋白质组学、大分子结晶和不同水平高分辨率成像的技术创新和改进方法为取得更大进展奠定了基础。药理学与膜蛋白的结构生物学相结合，为为数百万丧失视力或走向失明的患者开发创新、可及的治疗方法带来了巨大希望。
