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Theses/Dissertations

2008

University of Miami

Signal Transduction

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Light-Induced Relocalization Of The Photoreceptor G Protein Transducin Is Mediated By Binding Partner-Restricted Diffusion: New Insights Into G Protein Subunit Dissociation, Derek H. Rosenzweig Dec 2008

Light-Induced Relocalization Of The Photoreceptor G Protein Transducin Is Mediated By Binding Partner-Restricted Diffusion: New Insights Into G Protein Subunit Dissociation, Derek H. Rosenzweig

Open Access Dissertations

Phototransduction is a well characterized system for study of G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. The GPCR rhodopsin couples to the heterotrimeric G protein transducin. Light-stimulated activation of transducin in turn activates phosphodiesterase (PDE), leading to closure to cGMP-gated channels and inhibition of glutamate release. Rod and cone photoreceptors are highly polarized neurons consisting of the outer segment (OS) where phototransduction biochemistry occurs, the inner segment containing mitochondria and other organelles, the nuclear layer, an axon, and a glutamatergic synapse. Upon illumination, activated G protein transducin redistributes from the rod OS (where it is localized in the dark) to the …


Camp Signaling In Chemosensory Transduction, Craig D. Roberts Oct 2008

Camp Signaling In Chemosensory Transduction, Craig D. Roberts

Open Access Dissertations

cAMP is a second messenger in a variety of chemosensory receptors, including taste buds and glucose-sensitive pancreatic beta-cells. cAMP is modulated during taste transduction, yet the significance of cAMP changes and the taste cell types in which they occur (Type I glial-like; Type II Receptor; Type III Presynaptic) remain unclear. I developed techniques to image real-time changes in intracellular cAMP in taste cells using genetically-encoded cAMP reporters. This FRET-based reporter permits one to measure single-cell cAMP levels with excellent spatial and temporal resolution (Zaccolo & Pozzan 2002, Science 295:1711). Using a biolistic approach I have transfected rat fungiform taste buds …