Cyclic adenosine monophosphate: function in photoreceptors.

Inactivation of adenylate cyclase in outer segments of retinal photoreceptor cells is proportional to the bleaching of rhodopsin. Membranes of the outer segments also contain a particulate, light-insensitive phosphodiesterase of high specific activity. In electrophysiological experiments, application of cyclic adenosine monophosphate along with a methylxanthine mimics the effects of illumination on the photoreceptor cell of the compound eye of Limulus.