The selectivity for Ca2+ over Na+, PCa/PNa, is higher in cGMP-gated (CNG) ion channels of retinal cone photoreceptors than in those of rods. To ascertain the physiological significance of this fact, we determined the fraction of the cyclic nucleotide–gated current specifically carried by Ca2+ in intact rods and cones. We activated CNG channels by suddenly (<5 ms) increasing free 8Br-cGMP in the cytoplasm of rods or cones loaded with a caged ester of the cyclic nucleotide. Simultaneous with the uncaging flash, we measured the cyclic nucleotide–dependent changes in membrane current and fluorescence of the Ca2+-binding dye, Fura-2, also loaded into the cells. The ratio of changes in fura-2 fluorescence and the integral of the membrane current, under a restricted set of experimental conditions, is a direct measure of the fractional Ca2+ flux. Under normal physiological salt concentrations, the fractional Ca2+ flux is higher in CNG channels of cones than in those of rods, but it differs little among cones (or rods) of different species. Under normal physiological conditions and for membrane currents ≤200 pA, the Ca2+ fractional flux in single cones of striped bass was 33 ± 2%, and 34 ± 6% in catfish cones. Under comparable conditions, the Ca2+ fractional flux in rod outer segments of tiger salamander was 21 ± 1%, and 14 ± 1% in catfish rods. Fractional Ca2+ flux increases as extracellular Ca2+ rises, with a dependence well described by the Michaelis-Menten equation. KCa, the concentration at which Ca2+ fractional flux is 50% was 1.98 mM in bass cones and 4.96 mM in tiger salamander rods. Because Ca2+ fractional flux is higher in cones than in rods, light flashes that generate equal photocurrents will cause a larger change in cytoplasmic Ca2+ in cones than in rods.

Ruthenaelectro(II/IV)-catalyzed intermolecular C–H acyloxylations of phenols have been developed by guidance of experimental, CV and computational insights. The use of electricity bypassed the need for stoichiometric chemical oxidants. The sustainable...

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The kinetics of the photocurrent in both rod and cone retinal photoreceptors are independent of membrane voltage over the physiological range ( Ϫ 30 to Ϫ 65 mV). This is surprising since the photocurrent time course is regulated by the influx of Ca 2 ϩ through cGMP-gated ion channels (CNG) and the force driving this flux changes with membrane voltage. To understand this paradigm, we measured Pf , the fraction of the cyclic nucleotide-gated current specifically carried by Ca 2 ϩ in intact, isolated photoreceptors. To measure Pf we activated CNG channels by suddenly increasing free 8-Br-cGMP in the cytoplasm of rods or cones loaded with a caged ester of the cyclic nucleotide. Simultaneous with the uncaging flash, we measured the cyclic nucleotide-dependent changes in membrane current and fluorescence of the Ca 2 ϩ binding dye, Fura-2, also loaded into the cells. We determined Pf under physiological solutions at various holding membrane voltages between Ϫ 65 and Ϫ 25 mV. Pf is larger in cones than in rods, but in both photoreceptor types its value is independent of membrane voltage over the range tested. This biophysical feature of the CNG channels offers a functional advantage since it insures that the kinetics of the phototransduction current are controlled by light, and not by membrane voltage. To explain our observation, we developed a rate theory model of ion permeation through CNG channels that assumes the existence of two ion binding sites within the permeation pore. To assign values to the kinetic rates in the model, we measured experimental I-V curves in membrane patches of rods and cones over the voltage range Ϫ 90 to 90 mV in the presence of simple biionic solutions at different concentrations. We optimized the fit between simulated and experimental data. Model simulations describe well experimental photocurrents measured under physiological solutions in intact cones and are consistent with the voltage-independence of Pf , a feature that is optimized for the function of the channel in photoreceptors.