Melanopsin Products

Description

Opsins are members of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptor superfamily. This gene encodes a photoreceptive opsin protein that is expressed within the ganglion and amacrine cell layers of the retina. In mouse, retinal ganglion cell axons expressing this gene projected to the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other brain nuclei involved in circadian photoentrainment. In mouse, this protein is coupled to a transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel through a G protein signaling pathway and produces a physiologic light response via membrane depolarization and increased intracellular calcium. The protein functions as a sensory photopigment and may also have photoisomerase activity. Experiments with knockout mice indicate that this gene attenuates, but does not abolish, photoentrainment. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms. FUNCTION: Photoreceptor required for regulation of circadian rhythm. Contributes to pupillar reflex and other non-image forming responses to light. May be able to isomerize covalently bound all-trans retinal back to 11-cis retinal. SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Membrane; Multi-pass membrane protein. Note: Found in soma, dendrites and proximal part of axons of certain retinal ganglion cells. TISSUE SPECIFICITY: Eye. Expression is restricted within the ganglion and amacrine cell layers of the retina.

Bioinformatics

Entrez	94233 Human
Uniprot	Q9UHM6
Product By Gene ID	94233
Alternate Names	Melanopsin MGC142118 MOP OPN4 opsin 4 Opsin-4

Research Areas for Melanopsin

Find related products by research area and learn more about each of the different research areas below.

GPCR