Nonlinear dynamics underlying signal transduction in invertebrate phototransduction

Alain Pumir

CNRS, Institut Non Linéaire de Nice, Valbonne, France

Phototransduction is the process whereby a photon leads to the generation of an electrical current in a retina's cell. In invertebrate, one photon leads to a well-characterized electric pulse. I will discuss the mechanism of current generation. The mechanism is highly nonlinear, due to various Calcium mediated feedbacks. Fluctuations due to the small number of keys molecular species, also play a crucial role.

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