Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

The Molecular Basis of Visual Excitation

An Erratum to this article was published on 07 September 1968

Abstract

In 1967 Professor Wald, together with Professors H. K. Hartline and R. Granit, received the Nobel Prize for Medicine. The article that follows consists of most of the lecture delivered by Professor Wald last December when he received the prize in Stockholm.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Arrhenius, S., Quantitatve Laws in Biological Chemistry (G. Bell, London, 1915).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hecht, S., Die Physikalische Chemie und die Physiologie des Sehatkes, Erg. Physiol., 32, 243 (1931). Nature of the Photoreceptor Process, by Murchison, C., Handbook of General Experimental Psychology, 704 (Clark University Press, 1934). Nature of the Visual Process, Harvey Lectures, 33, 35 (1937–38). Le Base Chimique et Structurale de la Vision, 1 (Hermann et Cie., Paris, 1938).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wald, G., Nature, 132, 316 (1933), J. Gen. Physiol., 18, 905 (1934–35).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Blegvad, O., Amer. J. Ophthalmol., Series 3, 89 (1924).

  5. Fridericia, L. S., and Holm, E., Amer. J. Physiol., 73, 63 (1925).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Tansley, K., J. Physiol., 71 442 (1931); Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 114, 79 (1933).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Warburg, O., and Christian, W., Biochem. Z., 254, 438 (1932); ibid., 266, 377 (1933).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kuhn, R., György, P., and Wagner-Jauregg, T., Chem. Ber., 66, 317 (1933). Theorell, H., Biochem. Z., 275, 37, 344 (1934); ibid., 278, 263 (1935).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Karrer, P., Morf, R., and Schöpp, K., Helv. Chim. Acta, 14, 1431 (1931).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wald, G., Nature, 134, 65 (1934); J. Gen. Physiol., 19, 351 (1935–36).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ball, S., Goodwin, T. W., and Morton, R. A., Biochem. J., 40, P59 (1946); ibid., 42, 516 (1948).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Aubert, H., Physiologie der Nethaut (E. Morgenstern, Breslau, 1865).

    Google Scholar 

  13. König, A., Gesammelte Abhandlungen zur Physiologischen Optik (J. A. Barth, Leipzig, 1903).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Abney, W. de W., Colour Vision (Sampson Low, Marston, London, 1895).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Boll, F., Arch. Anat. u. Physiol., Physiol. Abt., 4 (1877).

  16. Kühne, W., On the Photochemistry of the Retina and on Visual Purple (edit. by Foster, M.) (Macmillan, London, 1878). Ewald, A., and Kühne, W., Untersuchungen über den Sehpurpur, 1, I–IV (Untersuch Physiol. Inst. Heidelberg, 1878). Kühne, W., in Hermann, L., Handbuch der Physiologie, 3, Part 1, 312 (F. C. W. Vogel, Leipzig, 1879). Voit, Nachruf, C., auf Kuehne, Willy, Z. Biol. (Munich), 40, i (1900).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kuhn, R., and Lederer, E., Ber. Chem. Ges., 66, 488 (1933).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wald, G., Nature., 136, 832 (1935); J. Gen. Physiol., 19, 781 (1935–36).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Köttgen, E., and Abelsdorff, G., Z. Psych. u. Physiol. Sinnesorg., 12, 161 (1896).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Wald, G., Nature, 136, 913 (1935); J. Gen. Physiol., 20, 45 (1936–37).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Wald, G., Nature, 139, 1017 (1937); J. Gen. Physiol., 22, 775 (1938–39).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Edisbury, J. R., Morton, R. A., and Simpkins, G. W., Nature, 140, 234 (1937).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Morton, R. A., Salah, M. K., and Stubbs, A. L., Nature, 159, 744 (1947). Farrar, K. R., Hamlet, J. C., Henbest, H. B., and Jones, E. R. H., J. Chem. Soc., 2657 (1952).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Wald, G., J. Gen. Physiol., 22, 391 (1938–39) ibid., 25, 235 (1941–42).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Wald, G., Harvey Lectures, 41, 117 (1945–46).

    MathSciNet  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Wald, G., J. Gen. Physiol., 40, 901 (1956–57).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Denton, E. J., and Warren, F. J., Nature, 178, 1059 (1956); compare also Munz, F. W., Science, 125, 1142 (1957); Wald, G., Brown, P. K., and Brown, P. S., Nature, 180, 969 (1957).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Carlisle, D. B., and Denton, E. J., J. Physiol., 139, 8 (1957); compare also Brown, P. K., and Brown, P. S., (1958), cited in Wald, G., Comparative Biochemistry, 1, 311 (Academic Press, New York, 1960).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Wald, G. : (a) The Distribution and Evolution of Visual Systems, in Comparative Biochemistry (edit. by Florkin, M., and Mason, H. S.), 1, 31 (Academic Press, New York, 1960); (b) Science, 128, 148 (1958); Circulation, 21, 916 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Iodopsin : (a) Wald, G., Nature, 140, 545 (1937); (b) Wald, G., Brown, P. K., and Smith, P. H., J. Gen. Physiol., 38, 623 (1954–55). Cyanopsin: (c) Wald, G., Brown, P. K., and Smith, P. H., Science, 118, 505 (1953).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Wald, G., and Hubbard, R., J. Gen. Physiol., 32, 367 (1948–49). Wald, G., Science, 109, 482 (1949); Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 4, 215 (1950).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. (a) Futterman, S., J. Biol. Chem., 238, 1145 (1963). (b) Krinsky, N. I., ibid., 232 881 (1958).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Koen, A. L., and Shaw, C. R., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 128, 48 (1966).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Wald, G., and Brown, P. K., Proc. US Nat. Acad. Sci., 36, 84 (1950); Wald, G., and Hubbard, R., ibid., 36, 92 (1950); Hubbard, R., and Wald, G., ibid., 37, 69 (1951).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Collins, F. D., Nature, 171, 469 (1953). Morton, R. A., and Pitt, G. A. J., Biochem. J., 59, 128 (1955).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Bownds, D., Nature, 216, 1178 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. (a) Hubbard, R., and Wald, G., J. Gen. Physiol., 36, 269 (1952–53). (b) Hubbard, R., Gregerman, R. I., and Wald, G., ibid., 36, 415 (1952–53).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. (a) Oroshnik, W., Brown, P. K., Hubbard, R., and Wald, G., Proc. US Nat. Acad. Sci., 42, 578 (1956) (b) Brown, P. K., and Wald, G., J. Biol. Chem., 222, 865 (1956).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Brown, P. K., and Smith, P. H., experiments cited in Wald, G., Fed. Proc., 12, 606 (1953); Amer. J. Ophthalmol., 40, 18 (1955); Mod. Prob. Ophthalmol., 1, 173 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Hubbard, R., J. Gen. Physiol., 39, 935 (1955–56).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Hubbard, R., and Kropf, A., Proc. US Nat. Acad. Sci., 44, 130 (1958). Kropf, A., and Hubbard, R., Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 74, 266 (1958).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Yoshizawa, T., and Wald, G., Nature, 197, 1279 (1963).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Yoshizawa, T., and Wald, G., Nature, 201, 340 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Yoshizawa, T., and Wald, G., Nature, 214, 566 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Matthews, R. G., Hubbard, R., Brown, P. K., and Wald, G., J. Gen. Physiol., 47, 215 (1963–64).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Wald, G., and Brown, P. K., J. Gen. Physiol., 35, 797 (1951–52), ibid., 37, 189 (1953–54).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Radding, C. M., and Wald, G., J. Gen. Physiol., 39, 909 (1955–56).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Hagins, W. A., Nature, 177, 989 (1956).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Wald, G., J. Gen. Physiol., 21, 795 (1937–38).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Compare discussion by Abrahamson, E. W., and Ostroy, S. E., Prog. Biophys. Mol. Biol., 17, 179 (1967). Bridges, C. D. B., in Comprehensive Biochemistry (edit. by Florkin, M., and Stotz, E. H.), 27, 31 (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  51. Brown, K. T., and Murakami, M., Nature, 201, 626 (1924).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. Compare review articles in Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol., 30, 457 (1965).

  53. Wald, G., Brown, P. K., and Gibbons, I. R., J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 53, 20 (1963).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Cone, R. A., and Brown, P. K., Science., 156, 536 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  55. (a) Rat: Cone, R. A., Science, 155, 1128 (1967); (b) Squid: Hagins, W. A., and McGaughy, R. E., ibid., 157, 813 (1967); ibid., 159, 213 (1968) (c) Limulus: Smith, T. G., and Brown, J. E., Nature, 212, 1217 (1966).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Brown, P. K., J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 51, 1000 (1961).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Wald, G., and Brown, P. K., Science, 127, 222 (1958).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Brown, P. K., and Wald, G., Nature, 200, 37 (1963).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. (a) Marks, W. B., Dobelle, W. H., and MacNichol, E. F., Science, 143, 1181 (1964). (b) Brown, P. K., and Wald, G., Science, 144, 45 (1964). (c) Wald, G., and Brown, P. K., Cold Spring Harbor Symp., 30, 345 (1965).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Granit, R., Acta. Physiol. Scand., Frog: 3, 137 (1942); Pigeon: 4, 118 (1942); Snake: 5, 108 (1943); Cat: 5, 219 (1943).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Granit, R., Acta Physiol. Scand., Tortoise: 1, 386 (1941); Tench: 2, 334 (1941).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Liebman, P., and Entine, G., Nature, 216, 501 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Marks, W. B., J. Physiol., 178, 14 (1965).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  64. Tomita, T., Kaneko, A., Murakami, M., and Pautler, E. L., Vision Res., 7, 519 (1967).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Wald, G., Nature, 215, 1131 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Wald, G., J. Gen. Physiol., 51, 125 (1967–68).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. Wald, G., Science, 145, 1007 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Stiles, W. S., Ned. Tijdschr. Natuurk., 15, 125 (1949). Stiles, W. S., Proc. US Nat. Acad. Sci., 45, 100 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  69. Wald, G., Proc. US Nat. Acad. Sci., 55, 1347 (1966).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Wright, W. D., J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 42, 509 (1952).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Kalmus, H., Ann. Human. Genet., 20, 39 (1955).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. König, A., and Köttgen, E., Sitzber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 577 (1894) and ref. 13, page 338.

  73. Willmer, E. N., Nature, 153, 774 (1944); Willmer, E. N., and Wright, W. D., ibid., 156, 119 (1945).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  74. Wald, G., J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 57, 1289 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

WALD, G. The Molecular Basis of Visual Excitation. Nature 219, 800–807 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/219800a0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/219800a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing