Contact information
Photosensitive retinal ganglion cells
Steven Hughes
BSc MSc PhD
Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow
My research focuses predominantly on the role of melanopsin based signaling pathways in the retina, and determining the mechanisms of phototransduction within photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. Specific interests include the role of ion channels in melanopsin signaling events and the regulation of pRGC excitability.
Other projects include assessing the impacts of naturally occurring genetic variations (OPN4 SNPs) on melanopsin function, and examining the potential of melanopsin based optogenetic gene therapy to restore functional vision in models of retinal degeneration.
Key publications
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Signalling by melanopsin (OPN4) expressing photosensitive retinal ganglion cells.
Journal article
Hughes S. et al, (2016), Eye (Lond), 30, 247 - 254
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Using siRNA to define functional interactions between melanopsin and multiple G Protein partners.
Journal article
Hughes S. et al, (2015), Cell Mol Life Sci, 72, 165 - 179
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Nonuniform distribution and spectral tuning of photosensitive retinal ganglion cells of the mouse retina.
Journal article
Hughes S. et al, (2013), Curr Biol, 23, 1696 - 1701
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Profound defects in pupillary responses to light in TRPM-channel null mice: a role for TRPM channels in non-image-forming photoreception.
Journal article
Hughes S. et al, (2012), Eur J Neurosci, 35, 34 - 43
Recent publications
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ON-bipolar cell gene expression during retinal degeneration: Implications for optogenetic visual restoration.
Journal article
Gilhooley MJ. et al, (2021), Exp Eye Res
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The functional characteristics of optogenetic gene therapy for vision restoration
Journal article
HANKINS M. et al, (2020), Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
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The functional characteristics of optogenetic gene therapy for vision restoration
Journal article
HANKINS M. et al, (2020), Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
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Differential roles for cryptochromes in the mammalian retinal clock.
Journal article
Wong JCY. et al, (2018), FASEB J, 32, 4302 - 4314
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Functional characterisation of naturally occurring mutations in human melanopsin.
Journal article
Rodgers J. et al, (2018), Cell Mol Life Sci
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Long-term restoration of visual function in end-stage retinal degeneration using subretinal human melanopsin gene therapy.
Journal article
De Silva SR. et al, (2017), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 114, 11211 - 11216
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Expression and localisation of two-pore domain (K2P) background leak potassium ion channels in the mouse retina.
Journal article
Hughes S. et al, (2017), Sci Rep, 7
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Constant Light Desynchronizes Olfactory versus Object and Visuospatial Recognition Memory Performance.
Journal article
Tam SKE. et al, (2017), J Neurosci, 37, 3555 - 3567
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Modulation of recognition memory performance by light requires both melanopsin and classical photoreceptors.
Journal article
Tam SKE. et al, (2016), Proc Biol Sci, 283
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Attenuated pupillary light responses and downregulation of opsin expression parallel decline in circadian disruption in two different mouse models of Huntington's disease.
Journal article
Ouk K. et al, (2016), Hum Mol Genet, 25