Melanopsin phototransduction: great excitement over a poor catch

Curr Biol. 2009 Mar 24;19(6):R256-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2009.01.034.

Abstract

A small subset of retinal output cells express the photopigment melanopsin, rendering them intrinsically light-sensitive. Recent work quantifies, for the first time, fundamental properties of their light response.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / physiology
  • Light
  • Light Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Optic Nerve / physiology
  • Photons
  • Retina / anatomy & histology*
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retina / physiology
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / physiology
  • Rod Opsins / physiology*
  • Visual Perception

Substances

  • Rod Opsins
  • melanopsin