Mouse Rhodopsin (RHO) Protein

Background

Rhodopsin (RHO) is a light-sensitive G protein-coupled receptor found in the rod cells of the retina, which plays a crucial role in vision, especially in low-light conditions. It is composed of the protein opsin and a retinal chromophore. When light hits rhodopsin, the retinal undergoes a conformational change, activating the opsin and initiating a signaling cascade that results in hyperpolarization of the rod cell and the transmission of visual signals to the brain. Rhodopsin is highly sensitive to light, making it essential for scotopic vision, or vision in dim light. Mutations in the RHO gene can lead to various retinal diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa, which causes progressive vision loss and, eventually, blindness. Research into rhodopsin and its mechanisms is important for understanding retinal diseases and developing potential therapies to treat them, including gene therapies and pharmacological interventions to restore or protect vision.