Cilia are hair-like projections found on almost all cells in the human body. Originally
believed to function merely in motility, the function of solitary non-motile (primary) cilia was …

Rhodopsin is the light receptor in photoreceptor cells of the retina and a prototypical G
protein-coupled receptor. Two types of quaternary structures can be adopted by rhodopsin. If …

Abstract Background Phosphodiesterase 6 (PDE6) is a protein complex that hydrolyses
cGMP and acts as the effector of the vertebrate phototransduction cascade. The PDE6 …

Vision under dim light relies on primary cilia elaborated by rod photoreceptors in the retina.
This specialized sensory structure, called the rod outer segment (ROS), comprises hundreds …

Biological membranes display distinct domains that organize membrane proteins and
signaling molecules to facilitate efficient and reliable signaling. The organization of …

The outer segment (OS) of the rod photoreceptor is a light-sensing cilium containing∼ 1,000
membrane-bound discs. Each day, discs constituting the distal tenth of the OS are shed …

The light-sensing rod photoreceptor cell exhibits several adaptations in response to the
lighting environment. While adaptations to short-term changes in lighting conditions have …

The photoreceptor outer segment is the canonical example of a modified and highly
specialized cilium, with an expanded membrane surface area in the form of disks or …

Photoreceptor outer segments (OSs) are essential for our visual perception, and take either
rod or cone forms. The cell biological basis for the formation of rods is well established; …

ABSTRACT A correctly functioning spinal cord is crucial for locomotion and communication
between body and brain but there are fundamental gaps in our knowledge of how spinal …