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On the Metabolism of the Rod Outer Segments

A Carretta, A Cavaggioni

J Physiol. 1976 Jun;257(3):687-97.

PMID: 781215

Abstract:

1. The high energy phosphate esters available for the luminescent reaction of the firefly lantern extract correspond, in the dark adapted rods of the frog, to 7 X 10(-16) mole of ATP per rod, corresponding to ca. 1-4 mM. 2. Rods isolated from light adapted eyes contain a smaller amount. 3. The high energy phosphate esters are reduced spontaneously at a rate of 50% in 24 min, in the isolated rods in darkness. 4. Bleaching a few per cent of the rhodopsin molecules of a rod suspension induces a 60% decrease achieved in less than 12 sec. 5. The ionophore A23187 decreases the high energy phosphate esters when the extracellular free Ca concentration is greater than 10(-7) M, suggesting that ATP is consumed in pumping Ca ions out of the rods, or into the disks contained in the rods, or both.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number Product Name Structure CAS Number Price
IAR424787 Firefly Lantern Extract Firefly Lantern Extract Price
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