Calcium regulation of phototransduction in vertebrate rod outer segments

Abstract

The biochemical events underlying the phototransduction cascade in retinal photoreceptors of vertebrates are now well established, on the basis of a wealth of electrophysiological and biochemical evidence. In this review the Ca2+ regulation of the enzymes that generates the photoreceptor light response is analyzed, as well as the Ca2+ transport across the plasma membrane. Most of the results discussed in the following were collected from electrophysiological experiments.