The Molecular Mechanism of Photoreception

The Biosynthetic, Functional, and Evolutionary Implications of the Structure of Rhodopsin.- Activation of Visual Pigment: Chromophore Structure and Function.- Interaction of Photoactivated Rhodopsin with Photoreceptor Proteins: The cGMP Cascade.- Evidence for a Role of Messenger Substances in Phototransduction.- Evaluation of Internal Transmitter Candidates: Ca.- Significance of Changes in Intracellular Ca2+ for the Mechanism of Signal Transduction in Vertebrate Rod Cells.- Evaluation of Rod Internal Transmitter Candidates: Cyclic GMP.- Properties of Cytoplasmic Transmitters of Excitation in Vertebrate Rods and Evaluation of Candidate Intermediary Transmitters.- Changes in Protein Phosphorylation and Nucleoside Triphosphates during Phototransduction - Physiological Correlates.- The Light-induced Conductance Change in the Vertebrate Rod.- Properties of the Light-dependent Membrane Conductances in Invertebrate Photoreceptors.- Bumps, the Elementary Excitatory Responses of Invertebrates.- Calcium and Light Adaptation in Invertebrate Photoreceptors.- Photopigment-dependent Adaptation in Invertebrates - Implications for Vertebrates.- Photoreceptor Adaptation - Vertebrates.- Turnover of Vertebrate Photoreceptor Membranes.- Turnover of Photoreceptor Membrane and Visual Pigment in Invertebrates.- Quantitative Models of Phototransduction.- Experimental Results and Physical Ideas towards a Model for Quantum Bumps in Photoreceptors.- Potentials and Limitations of Noise Analysis of Light-induced Conductance Changes in Photoreceptors.- Molecular Genetic Approach to the Study of Phototransduction in Drosophila.- Triggering and Amplification Group Report.- Internal Messengers Group Report.- Light-sensitive Channels, Pumps, and Carriers Group Report.- Adaptation Group Report.-List of Participants with Fields of Research.- Author Index.