The major focus of our laboratory
is the study of signal transduction
in vertebrate rod and cone photoreceptors.
We are interested in learning how
rods and cones ensure the high temporal
resolution of our vision, how they
maintain responsiveness to light
throughout the vast changes of illumination
levels during the day-night cycle,
how they maintain their highly compartmentalized
structure and how different subcellular
compartments cooperate during the
cellular response to light. The function
of these cells is well understood,
their structure is highly compatrmentalized
and they are uniquely suitable for
study using modern multi-disciplinary
approaches, including biochemistry,
electrophysiology, transgenics and
proteomics. This makes the photoreceptor
an almost unmatched model for addressing
general principles of signal transduction
on the molecular and cellular levels.
Currently, we are pursuing the following
experimental directions:
- Understanding the basic mechanisms
by which the duration of cellular
signaling events is regulated in
phototransduction and other signaling
pathways.
- Elucidating the cellular mechanisms
and physiological role of the recently
discovered phenomenon of massive
light-driven translocation of signaling
proteins between the major compartments
of rods and cones.
- Exploring the role of G proteins
in photoreceptor synaptic transmission.
- Studying the mechanisms of protein
targeting to specific compartments
of the photoreceptor cell.
- Applying mass spectrometry and
proteomics techniques to studying
individual cellular compartments
and multi-protein complexes.
