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The Functional Properties of the G Protein-Coupled Receptor Melanopsin in Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells

Novel Photoreceptors Controlling Diverse Visual Functions

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G Protein Signaling Mechanisms in the Retina

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Vision Research ((SSVR,volume 3))

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Abstract

Only slightly over a decade ago, the rods and cones in the outer retina were thought to be the exclusive photoreceptors in mammals. Since then, the discovery of an additional photopigment melanopsin (a G protein-coupled receptor, GPCR) expressed in a small subset of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) has expanded upon the conventional view of light detection and information flow in the retina. In this chapter, we will highlight our current understanding of the structure and function of melanopsin, the cell biology and physiology of ipRGCs, how ipRGCs are integrated into the retinal circuitry, and the role of ipRGCs in visual behaviors.

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  1. Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Mudd Hall 228, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Alan C. Rupp BS & Samer Hattar PhD

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  1. Alan C. Rupp BS
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  2. Samer Hattar PhD
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Correspondence to Samer Hattar PhD .

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  1. The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA

    Kirill A. Martemyanov

  2. Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Alapakkam P. Sampath

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Rupp, A., Hattar, S. (2014). The Functional Properties of the G Protein-Coupled Receptor Melanopsin in Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells. In: Martemyanov, K., Sampath, A. (eds) G Protein Signaling Mechanisms in the Retina. Springer Series in Vision Research, vol 3. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1218-6_10

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