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Detecting single photons: A supramolecular matter?
Author(s) -
Cangiano Lorenzo,
Dell'Orco Daniele
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.11.015
Subject(s) - supramolecular chemistry , transducin , rhodopsin , biophysics , photon , biology , nanotechnology , evolutionary biology , chemistry , physics , crystallography , optics , materials science , biochemistry , retinal , crystal structure
Rod photoreceptors detect single photons through a tradeoff of light collecting ability, amplification and speed. Key roles are played by rhodopsin (Rh) and transducin (G t ), whose complex supramolecular organization in outer segment disks begs for a functional interpretation. Here we review past and recent evidence of a temperature‐dependence of photon detection by mammalian rods, and link this phenomenon with the putative oligomeric organization of Rh and new ideas on the dynamics of Rh–G t interaction. Identifying an electrophysiological correlate of the supramolecular organization of Rh and G t may shed light on the evolutionary advantage it confers to night vision.
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