• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.59-73
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• 2008

Several aspects of photoperception and light signal transduction have been elucidated by studies with model plants. However, the information available for economically important crops, such as Fabaceae species, is scarce. In order to incorporate the existing genomic tools into a strategy to advance soybean research, we have investigated publicly available expressed sequence tag (EST) sequence databases in order to identify Glycine max sequences related to genes involved in light-regulated developmental control in model plants. Approximately 38,000 sequences from open-access databases were investigated, and all bona fide and putative photoreceptor gene families were found in soybean sequence databases. We have identified G. max orthologs for several families of transcriptional regulators and cytoplasmic proteins mediating photoreceptor-induced responses, although some important Arabidopsis phytochrome-signaling components are absent. Moreover, soybean and Arabidopsis genefamily homologs appear to have undergone a distinct expansion process in some cases. We propose a working model of light perception, signal transduction and response-eliciting in G. max, based on the identified key components from Arabidopsis. These results demonstrate the power of comparative genomics between model systems and crop species to elucidate several aspects of plant physiology and metabolism.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.613-622
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• 2021

In vertebrate eyes, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) provides structural and functional homeostasis to the retina. The RPE takes up retinol (ROL) to be dehydrogenated and isomerized to 11-cis-retinaldehyde (11-cis-RAL), which is a functional photopigment in mammalian photoreceptors. As excessive ROL is toxic, the RPE must also establish mechanisms to protect against ROL toxicity. Here, we found that the levels of retinol dehydrogenases (RDHs) are commonly decreased in phosphatase tensin homolog (Pten)-deficient mouse RPE, which degenerates due to elevated ROL and that can be rescued by feeding a ROL-free diet. We also identified that RDH gene expression is regulated by forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors, which are inactivated by hyperactive Akt in the Pten-deficient mouse RPE. Together, our findings suggest that a homeostatic pathway comprising PTEN, FOXO, and RDH can protect the RPE from ROL toxicity.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.281-283
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• 2002

S-modulin in frog or its bovine homologue, recoverin, is a 26 kDa EF-hand $Ca^{2+}$-binding protein found in rod photoreceptors. The $Ca^{2+}$ -bound form of S-modulin binds to rhodopsin kinase (Rk) and inhibits its activity. Through this regulation, S-modulin is believed to modulate the light-sensitivity of a rod. In the present study, we tried to identify the interaction site of the $Ca^{2+}$ -bound form of S-modulin to Rk. First, we mapped roughly the interaction regions by using partial peptides of S-modulin. The result suggested that a specific region near the amino terminus is the interaction site of S- modulin. We then identified the essential amino acid residues in this region by using S-modulin mutant proteins: four amino acid residues were suggested to interact with Rk. These residues are located in a small closed pocket in the $Ca^{2+}$-free, inactive form of S-modulin, but exposed to the surface of the molecules in the $Ca^{2+}$ -bound, active form of S-modulin. Two additional amino acid residues were found to be crucial for the $Ca^{2+}$ -dependent conformational changes of S-modulin. The present study firstly identified the functional site of S-modulin, a member of a neuronal calcium sensor protein family.in family..

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.187-191
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was done to understand the visual system of bat by analyzing the distribution of middle/long (ML) opsin cone photoreceptors in the retina of the greater horseshoe bat. Methods: Experiments have been performed by standard immunocytochemical techniques on retina of the greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. Results: The estimated numbers of ML cones were $27,336{\pm}2,130$ cells and the mean density of them was $7,854{\pm}268cells/mm^2$ among the four retinas. S opsin was appeared a little immunoreactivity in the outer segments of outer nuclear layer of cones. Conclusions: From the well organized spatial distributions of ML opsin and the immunoreactivity of S opsin in the retinas, the greater horseshoe bats have the functions not only reacting in the photopic vision but being able to distinguish the colors.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2000

The object of this study was to improve electrophotographic photoreceptor using metal free-phthalocyanine dye sensitized system. In here a various types of metal free-phthalocyanine and polymers and hydrazone were used as charge generation material(CGM) and binder, respectively, and also the hydrazone derivative or zinc complex was used as charge transport material(CTM). It was found that $x-H_2Pc$ showed the highest sensitivity among the ${\alpha}-$, ${\beta}-$ and x- metal free-phthalocyanine($x-H_2Pc$) as CGM. The photoreceptor made by $x-H_2Pc$ and hydrazone derivative as CGM and CTM, respectively, showed the highest ratio of dark decay having 73.1% and the good sensitivity of $1.50lux{\cdot}sec$ compared to other photoreceptors.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.79-88
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• 1992

In order to identify the effects of the kainic acid in the retina kainic acid (120 nmol/$5{\mu}l$) were injected through the pars plana of the ciliary body into the duck eye ball at 7th day after hatching. The animals were sacrificed by decapitation on the 1st, 4th and 10th day after injection of the kainic acid. The specimen was processed for the light and electron microscopes respectively. The results obtained were as followings 1. The inner nuclear, inner plexiform and ganglion cell layers of the retina showed marked changes in all of the groups. 2. The cells in the inner nuclear layer showed marked degenerative changes of the organelles including the pyknoses and destruction of the nucleus on the 1st day after injection. These destructive changes of the cells were progressively disappeared until the 10th day after injection. 3. After injection of the kainic acid the neurites of the inner plexiform layer were swollen at the first, and thereafter those changes were gradually disappeared until the 10th day. 4. In the ganglion cell defected by the kinic acid, the enlargement and segmentation of the endoplasmic reticulum and pyknosis of the nucleus were-observed in all the groups, although the lipid droplets were only shown in the 4th day. From the above results, the evidence suggests that kainic acid gives to the toxic effect on the nuurons of the retina with exception of the photoreceptors.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.632-639
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• 1994

For dye sensitization of zinc oxide in the visible region, copper phthalocyanine(CuPc) and sunfast yellow(SY) were adsorbed in two layers on zinc oxide powder. The adsorption structures of $\alpha-and\beta-CuPc$ on zinc oxide were investigated by photoacoustic, IR and Raman spectra. The ${\alpha}-and\;{\beta}$-polymorphs exhibited dimeric structure or molecular aggregates. The surface photovoltaic effect of ZnO/CuPc/SY showed higher than that of ZnO/SY/CuPc and $ZnO/\beta-CuPc/SY$ indicated better photosensitive than $ZnO/\alpha-CuPc/SY.$ Electrophotographic sensitivity of $ZnO/\beta-CuPc/SY$ was $$S_{1/2}=2.99{\times}10^{-2}(erg/cm^2)^{-1}$ at 630 nm.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.49-58
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• 2002

Based on electrophysiological retina mechanism, a retina model is proposed, which has similar response characteristics compared with the real primate retina. Photoreceptors, horizontal cells, and bipolar cells are modeled based on the previously studied retina models. And amacrine cells known to have relation to movements detection, and bipolar cell terminals are newly modeled using 3 NDP mechanism. The proposed model verified by analyzing the spatial response characteristics to stationary and moving stimuli, and characteristics for different speeds. Through this retina model, human vision system could be applied to computer vision systems for movement detection, and it could be the basic research for the implantable artificial retina.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.37-40
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• 2002

Ascidians are lower chordates, and their tadpole-like larvae share a basic body plan with vertebrates. To study photoreceptive systems in ascidians, we have isolated and characterized cDNA clones for three opsins, five G protein ${\alpha}$ subunits (G${\alpha}$), catalytic and regulatory subunits of cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE), and arrestin from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis tadpole larva. Ci-opsin1 and Ci-opsin2 are vertebrate-type opsins, while Ci-opsin3 is a retinal photoisomerase similar to retinochrome and mammalian RGR. Both Ci-opsin1 and arrestin are specifically localized in the photoreceptor cells of the ocellus, whereas Ci -opsin2 is not expressed in the photoreceptors, but is co-localized in another population of neurons in the brain with PDE (Ci-PDE9 and Ci-PDE$\delta$). Ci-opsin3 is present in the entire region of the brain. Though five different cDNAs encoding Ga have been cloned, no transducin-type G protein has been found yet. Interestingly, one of G${\alpha}$i isoform is conspicuously expressed in the entire region of the brain. The Ci-opsin3 gene expression was observed in a broad area of the brain vesicle as well as in the visceral ganglion. Genes encoding ascidian homologs of CRALBP and ${\beta}$-CD, whose function is required for the mammalian visual cycle, are co-expressed with Ci-opsin3 in the brain vesicle and visceral ganglion. Localization of Ci-opsin3, CRALBP, and ${\beta}$-CD in a broad area of the brain suggests that the brain of the ascidian larva has a visual cycle system similar to that of the vertebrate RPE. Based on these data, we discuss the evolution of vertebrate visual systems.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2018

Light is essential to the growth and development of plants, and it is perceived by phytochromes, which are one of the photoreceptors that regulate physiological responses in plants. Ethylene regulates the dormancy, senescence, growth, and development of organs in plants. This research focused on the interaction of phytochromes and ethylene to control hypocotyl growth and gravitropism using phytochrome mutants of Arabidopsis, phyA, phyB, and phyAB, under three light conditions: red (R) light, farred (FR) light, and white light. The mutant phyAB exhibited the most stimulation of gravitropic response of all three phytochrome mutants and wild type (WT) in all three light conditions. Moreover, phyB in the R light condition showed more negative gravitropism than phyA. However, phyB in the FR light condition showed less curvature than phyA. The hypocotyl growth pattern was similar to the gravitropic response in several light conditions. To explain the mechanism of the regulation of gravitropic response and growth, we measured the ethylene production and activities of in vitro ACS and ACO. Ethylene production was reduced in all the mutants grown in white light in comparison to the WT. Ethylene production increased in the phyA grown in R light and phyB grown in FR light in comparison to the other mutants. The ACS activity coincided with the ethylene production in the phyA and the phyB grown in R light and FR light, respectively. These results suggest that the Pfr form of phyB in R light and the Pr form of phyA in FR light increased ethylene production via increasing ACS activity.