Phototransduction in Drosophila

Sci China Life Sci. 2012 Jan;55(1):27-34. doi: 10.1007/s11427-012-4272-4. Epub 2012 Feb 8.

Abstract

The Drosophila visual transduction is the fastest known G protein-coupled signaling cascade and has been served as a model for understanding the molecular mechanisms of other G protein-coupled signaling cascades. Numbers of components in visual transduction machinery have been identified. Based on the functional characterization of these genes, a model for Drosophila phototransduction has been outlined, including rhodopsin activation, phosphoinoside signaling, and the opening of TRP and TRPL channels. Recently, the characterization of mutants, showing slow termination, revealed the physiological significance and the mechanism of rapid termination of light response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / cytology*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / physiology*
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Light
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels / metabolism
  • Vision, Ocular / physiology*

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels
  • GTP-Binding Proteins