# Deactivation Mechanisms of Rod Phototransduction

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 2020 · $392,500

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Retinal rod and cone photoreceptor cells mediate the essential first steps in vision by
signaling light intensity and its modulation. Although the initial biochemical steps that transduce
light into electrical signals in the outer segments of photoreceptors are well understood, much
less is known about how outer segment currents are transformed by voltage-sensitive
conductances and influenced by adaptation and circadian regulation in vivo. The work
proposed in this application will investigate photoreceptor physiology the living eye and the
mechanisms by which photoreceptor physiology is modulated to influence visual sensitivity and
kinetics, and to mitigate photoreceptor stress. Using primarily a combination of ex vivo and in
vivo electrophysiological approaches, three aims will be investigated: 1. Determine the role of
Kv2.1 channels in rods. 2. Define the mechanisms that constrain photoreceptor sensitivity and
kinetics in vivo. 3. Determine how photoreceptor properties are modulated by the circadian
clock.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9918936
- **Project number:** 5R01EY014047-18
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- **Principal Investigator:** MARIE E BURNS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $392,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-05-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9918936

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9918936, Deactivation Mechanisms of Rod Phototransduction (5R01EY014047-18). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-10 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9918936. Licensed CC0.

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