Lights out: deactivation of the phototransduction cascade

Trends Biochem Sci. 1997 Sep;22(9):350-4. doi: 10.1016/s0968-0004(97)01100-6.

Abstract

The phototransduction G-protein-coupled signaling cascade is an extremely rapid response to photons of light. Equally important to activation of signaling is switching the signal off. A variety of strategies, ranging from the action of kinases and phosphatases, to feedback regulation by substrates and small molecules, ensures efficient inactivation. Here, we focus on phototransduction in Drosophila as a paradigm for the study of deactivation in a complex G-protein-coupled signaling pathway in vivo.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Drosophila
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Ion Channels / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Phosphotransferases / metabolism
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / physiology
  • Vision, Ocular / physiology*

Substances

  • Ion Channels
  • Phosphotransferases
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Calcium