Rhodopsin (RHO)

Rhodopsin is a light-sensitive receptor protein found in the rod cells of the retina. It plays a critical role in scotopic (dim-light) vision by mediating visual phototransduction, which is the process of converting photons into chemical signals that can be interpreted by the nervous system. Rhodopsin belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily and is composed of opsin and retinal. Upon light absorption, rhodopsin undergoes conformational changes, activating a signaling cascade that ultimately leads to visual perception. Mutations affecting rhodopsin can cause inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.

Other names

Visual purpleScotopsinOpsin

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