PDA

View Full Version : Light-mediated retinoic acid production.


bernard
15-12-2006, 08:04 AM
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. (javascript:AL_get(this, 'jour', 'Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.');) 1996 Oct 29;93(22):12570-4. Related Articles, (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=pubmed_Abstract&db=pubmed&cmd=Display&dopt=pubmed_pubmed&from_uid=8901623&itool=ExternalSearch) Links (javascript:PopUpMenu2_Set(Menu8901623);) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query/egifs/http:--highwire.stanford.edu-icons-externalservices-pubmed-free-pnas-free.gif (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/utils/fref.fcgi?itool=Abstract-def&PrId=3051&uid=8901623&db=pubmed&url=http://www.pnas.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=8901623) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query/egifs/http:--www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov-corehtml-query-pubmed-pmc.gif (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/utils/fref.fcgi?itool=Abstract-def&PrId=3494&uid=8901623&db=pubmed&url=http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=8901623)
Light-mediated retinoic acid production.

McCaffery P (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Search&itool=pubmed_Abstract&term=%22McCaffery+P%22%5BAuthor%5D), Mey J (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Search&itool=pubmed_Abstract&term=%22Mey+J%22%5BAuthor%5D), Drager UC (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Search&itool=pubmed_Abstract&term=%22Drager+UC%22%5BAuthor%5D).

Division of Developmental Neuroscience, E. K. Shriver Center, Waltham, MA 02254, USA.

Retinoids serve two main functions in biology: retinaldehyde forms the chromophore bound to opsins, and retinoic acid (RA) is the activating ligand of transcription factors. These two functions are linked in the vertebrate eye: we describe here that illumination of the retina results in an increase in RA synthesis, as detected with a RA bioassay and by HPLC. The synthesis is mediated by retinaldehyde dehydrogenases which convert some of the chromophore all-trans retinaldehyde, released from bleached rhodopsin, into RA. As the eye contains high levels of retinaldehyde dehydrogenases, and as the oxidation of retinaldehyde is an irreversible reaction, RA production has to be considered an unavoidable by-product of light. Through RA synthesis, light can thus directly influence gene transcription in the eye, which provides a plausible mechanism for light effects that cannot be explained by electric activity. Whereas the function of retinaldehyde as chromophore is conserved from bacteria to mammals, RA-mediated transcription is fully evolved only in vertebrates. Invertebrates differ from vertebrates in the mechanism of chromophore regeneration: while in the invertebrate visual cycle the chromophore remains bound, it is released as free all-trans retinaldehyde from illuminated vertebrate rhodopsin. RA synthesis occurring as corollary of dark regeneration in the vertebrate visual cycle may have given rise to the expansion of RA-mediated transcriptional regulation.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't (javascript:AL_get(this, 'ptyp', 'Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov\'t ');)
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. (javascript:AL_get(this, 'ptyp', 'Research Support, U.S. Gov\'t, P.H.S. ');)
PMID: 8901623 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

bernard
15-12-2006, 08:11 AM
Hi all,

I found this one interesting because it shows (perhaps) that some invisible senses are possibly embeded since early days of life. We accept the nervous system acts via chemical but it is possible that some reactions occur without its "presence", only via chemicals.

Randy Dixon
15-12-2006, 10:09 AM
Something has to tell the nerve where and how to grow. Not everything is about nerves.

bernard
15-12-2006, 10:18 AM
Welcome back Randy,

I'm sure that we are all agreeing there, even if the board is neuro-oriented.
I brought the article because it brings some "light" and simple explanation about "hidden" properties of the body.

Diane
15-12-2006, 05:41 PM
What tells all cells to "move" is a chemical gradient. True enough, Randy, that in the body there are cells that can move independently of the nervous system, i.e. immune cells (http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/525890/?sc=dwhn). It is a chemcal gradient that attracts neutrophils, and a chemical gradient that attracts neuron growth.

All locomotor behavior seems to have reducing chemical gradients as a motivation (e.g., reducing that smell of freshly baked apple pie by moving toward it and consuming it.) Fits in with "Nature abhors a gradient" from Into the Cool (http://www.intothecool.com/). However, I think we can agree that it is the nervous system that smells the pie and moves the multicell human vertebrate organism toward it.... no?