The molecular basis of mechanisms underlying polarization vision
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Date
2011-03-12
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Citation of Original Publication
Nicholas W. Roberts1, Megan L. Porter and Thomas W. Cronin, The molecular basis of mechanisms underlying polarization vision, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B (2011) 366, 627–637 ,DOI :10.1098/rstb.2010.0206
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Abstract
The underlying mechanisms of polarization sensitivity (PS) have long remained elusive. For
rhabdomeric photoreceptors, questions remain over the high levels of PS measured experimentally.
In ciliary photoreceptors, and specifically cones, little direct evidence supports any type of mechanism.
In order to promote a greater interest in these fundamental aspects of polarization vision, we
examined a varied collection of studies linking membrane biochemistry, protein–protein interactions,
molecular ordering and membrane phase behaviour. While initially these studies may
seem unrelated to polarization vision, a common narrative emerges. A surprising amount of evidence
exists demonstrating the importance of protein–protein interactions in both rhabdomeric
and ciliary photoreceptors, indicating the possible long-range ordering of the opsin protein for
increased PS. Moreover, we extend this direction by considering how such protein paracrystalline
organization arises in all cell types from controlled membrane phase behaviour and propose a
universal pathway for PS to occur in both rhabdomeric and cone photoreceptors.