The rhodopsin pathway in rod cells is used for visual signaling. Describe the steps involved in...

The rhodopsin pathway in rod cells is used for visual signaling. Describe the steps involved in signal transduction in the rhodopsin pathway.

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Expert Solution

The rods and cones serve as sensory nerve endings for visual sensation. light falling upon the retina causes photochemical changes which in turn trigger a cascade of biochemical reactions that result in generation of electrical changes. Photochemical changes occurring in the rods and cones are essentially similar but the changes in rod pigment (rhodopsin or visual purple) have been studied in more detail. This whole phenomenon of conversion of light energy into nerve impulse is known as phototransduction.
Photochemical changes
The photochemical changes include:
Rhodopsin bleaching. Rhodopsin refers to the visual pigment present in the rods—the receptors for night (scotopic) vision. Its maximum absorption spectrum is around 500 nm. Rhodopsin consists of a colourless protein called opsin coupled with a carotenoid called retinine (Vitamin A aldehyde or 11-cis-retinal). light falling on the rods converts 11-cis-retinal component of rhodopsin into 11-cis-retinal through various stages . The all-trans-retinal so formed is soon separated from the opsin . This process of separation is called photodecomposition and the rhodopsin is said to be bleached by the action of light.

Rhodopsin regeneration. The 11-cis-retinal is regenerated from the alt-trans-retinal separated from the opsin (as described above) and vitamin-A (retinal) supplied from the blood. The 11-cis- retinal then reunites with opsin in the rod outer segment to form the rhodopsin. This whole process is called rhodopsin regeneration . Thus, the bleaching of the rhodopsin occurs under the influence of light, whereas the regeneration process is independent of light, proceeding equally well in light and darkness.

Sydney Mullin answered 1 year ago

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