Circadian Regulation of Ion Channels in Photoreceptors
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abstract
The circadian oscillators endogenous to photoreceptors lead to morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes that ultimately regulate photoreceptor function and physiology in a circadian fashion. The circadian regulation of ion channels underlies the cellular mechanisms of daily changes in photoreceptors. The apparent affinities of cyclic-guanosine-monophosphate-gated cation channels, the 1-subunit expression and current amplitude of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, and the current amplitude of potassium channels are under circadian regulation. Not only do the complex cell signaling network and microRNAs regulate the circadian rhythms of ion channels, neuromodulators in the retina such as dopamine, somatostatin, and melatonin also play important roles in regulating the circadian rhythms of these ion channels. The overall circadian regulation of the retina enables the visual system to anticipate and adapt to sustained daily illumination changes as well as acute light/dark adaptation.
