2003/01/31 by Sławomir Filipek, Ronald E. Stenkamp, David C. Teller +1
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · #Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling #Photoreceptor and optogenetics research #Retinal Development and Disorders
paper · doi:10.1146/annurev.physiol.65.092101.142611
Rhodopsin is a retinal photoreceptor protein of bipartite structure consisting of the transmembrane protein opsin and a light-sensitive chromophore 11-cis-retinal, linked to opsin via a protonated Schiff base. Studies on rhodopsin have unveiled many structural and functional features that are common to a large and pharmacologically important group of proteins from the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, of which rhodopsin is the best-studied member. In this work, we focus on structural features of rhodopsin as revealed by many biochemical and structural investigations. In particular, the high-resolution structure of bovine rhodopsin provides a template for understanding how GPCRs work. We describe the sensitivity and complexity of rhodopsin that lead to its important role in vision.