Abstract
Purpose: :
to test the abilities of non-retinoid compounds on cone opsin activity. The beta ionone ring portion of retinal has been shown to affect the ability of cone opsins’ ability to activate transducin with the middle/long wavelength-sensitive cone opsins being more readily deactivated with truncated retinal analogs than the short wavelength-sensitive cone opsin. Furthermore, cone opsin and ligand interactions appear to be important in the proper development and maintenance of cone photoreceptor cells.
Methods: :
A radioactive filter binding assay was used to measure the ability of human short and long wavelength-sensitive cone opsins to activate transducin with and without test compounds that included safranal, benzylidene acetone, cinnamaldehyde, wintergreen oil, and cyclohexane. Compounds were chosen for their similar but different ring structures compared to 11-cis retinal.
Results: :
Most of the compounds tested were partial inverse agonists to both classes of opsins and not as efficient as 11-cis retinal.
Conclusions: :
Nonretinoid compounds can interact with cone opsins and effect activity.
Keywords: color pigments and opsins • retinoids/retinoid binding proteins • signal transduction: pharmacology/physiology