Sandbox 173: Difference between revisions

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===Visual Signal Transduction===

====~~Photoisomeration~~ of 11-''cis'' Retinal====

====Photoisomerization of 11-''cis'' Retinal====

The 11-''cis'' retinal (retinylidene) Schiff base functions as an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse_agonist inverse agonist] and is prominently involved in the activation of rhodopsin. The primary step in rhodopsin photoactivation occurs in the ~~photoisomeration~~ of rhodopsin, as light energy absorbed from a photon is converted into chemical energy. As a photon is absorbed by the retina, the 11-''cis'' retinylidene ligand is switched into an all-''trans'' retinal configuration<ref name="Article2"/>. In this extremely efficient <200 fs process, the protein-binding pocket, initially fitted to accommodate the 11-''cis'' conformation of the chromophore, is preserved, which restrains the relaxation of the chromophore. The strained relaxation of conformational energy changes the protein state into the active form<ref name="Article2"/>.

The 11-''cis'' retinal (retinylidene) Schiff base functions as an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse_agonist inverse agonist] and is prominently involved in the activation of rhodopsin. The primary step in rhodopsin photoactivation occurs in the photoisomerization of rhodopsin, as light energy absorbed from a photon is converted into chemical energy. As a photon is absorbed by the retina, the 11-''cis'' retinylidene ligand is switched into an all-''trans'' retinal configuration<ref name="Article2"/>. In this extremely efficient <200 fs process, the protein-binding pocket, initially fitted to accommodate the 11-''cis'' conformation of the chromophore, is preserved, which restrains the relaxation of the chromophore. The strained relaxation of conformational energy changes the protein state into the active form<ref name="Article2"/>.

====Adjustment and Thermal Relaxation of the Protein====

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There is positive enthalpy associated with the formation of Metarhodopsin II. This formation of the active state, also linked with the increase in entropy, is suggested to release the constraints in the helices and expose the cytoplasmic binding sites<ref name="Article9"/>. An important part of this process includes the 9-methyl group of retinal, which is suggested to provide a scaffold for proton transfers essential for the formation of the active state<ref name="Article9"/>.

====~~Signalling~~ Cascade and Polarization of the Cell Membrane====

====Signaling Cascade and Polarization of the Cell Membrane====

[[image:RhodopsinTransducinComplex.jpg|thumb|left|Rhodopsin interaction with transducin.]]

The excited rhodopsin interacts with a large number of transducin molecules, found in the cytoplasmic face of the disk membrane. Transducin is a member of the heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins family, and it binds to GDP in the dark. This interaction generates a signaling cascade where transducin molecules are activated through the trigger of GDP-GTP nucleotide exchange in the α subunit<ref name="Article6"/>. Each activated transducin dissociates into Tα-GTP and Tβγ subunits, and Tα-GTP activates [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CGMP-specific_phosphodiesterase_type_5 cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase] by binding and removing its inhibitory subunit<ref name="Textbook">Nelson, D., and Cox, M. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 2008. 5th edition. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, New York, USA. pp. 462-465.</ref>.

Sandbox 173: Difference between revisions

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@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 ===Visual Signal Transduction===
 <applet load='1u19' size='300' color='black' frame='true' align='right' caption='Residues Involved in Activation of Rhodopsin. The generated structure is from Chain A.'/>
-====Photoisomeration of 11-''cis'' Retinal====
+====Photoisomerization of 11-''cis'' Retinal====
-The 11-''cis'' retinal (retinylidene) Schiff base functions as an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse_agonist inverse agonist] and is prominently involved in the activation of rhodopsin. The primary step in rhodopsin photoactivation occurs in the photoisomeration of rhodopsin, as light energy absorbed from a photon is converted into chemical energy. As a photon is absorbed by the retina, the 11-''cis'' retinylidene ligand is switched into an all-''trans'' retinal configuration<ref name="Article2"/>. In this extremely efficient <200 fs process, the protein-binding pocket, initially fitted to accommodate the 11-''cis'' conformation of the chromophore, is preserved, which restrains the relaxation of the chromophore. The strained relaxation of conformational energy changes the protein state into the active form<ref name="Article2"/>.
+The 11-''cis'' retinal (retinylidene) Schiff base functions as an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse_agonist inverse agonist] and is prominently involved in the activation of rhodopsin. The primary step in rhodopsin photoactivation occurs in the photoisomerization of rhodopsin, as light energy absorbed from a photon is converted into chemical energy. As a photon is absorbed by the retina, the 11-''cis'' retinylidene ligand is switched into an all-''trans'' retinal configuration<ref name="Article2"/>. In this extremely efficient <200 fs process, the protein-binding pocket, initially fitted to accommodate the 11-''cis'' conformation of the chromophore, is preserved, which restrains the relaxation of the chromophore. The strained relaxation of conformational energy changes the protein state into the active form<ref name="Article2"/>.
 ====Adjustment and Thermal Relaxation of the Protein====
@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 There is positive enthalpy associated with the formation of Metarhodopsin II. This formation of the active state, also linked with the increase in entropy, is suggested to release the constraints in the helices and expose the cytoplasmic binding sites<ref name="Article9"/>. An important part of this process includes the 9-methyl group of retinal, which is suggested to provide a scaffold for proton transfers essential for the formation of the active state<ref name="Article9"/>.
-====Signalling Cascade and Polarization of the Cell Membrane====
+====Signaling Cascade and Polarization of the Cell Membrane====
 [[image:RhodopsinTransducinComplex.jpg|thumb|left|Rhodopsin interaction with transducin.]]
 The excited rhodopsin interacts with a large number of transducin molecules, found in the cytoplasmic face of the disk membrane. Transducin is a member of the heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins family, and it binds to GDP in the dark. This interaction generates a signaling cascade where transducin molecules are activated through the trigger of GDP-GTP nucleotide exchange in the α subunit<ref name="Article6"/>. Each activated transducin dissociates into Tα-GTP and Tβγ subunits, and Tα-GTP activates [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CGMP-specific_phosphodiesterase_type_5 cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase] by binding and removing its inhibitory subunit<ref name="Textbook">Nelson, D., and Cox, M. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 2008. 5th edition. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, New York, USA. pp. 462-465.</ref>.