Takashi Nagata

Oct 15, 2024 | nature.com | Takashi Nagata |Pavel Afanasyev |Ishita Das |Xavier Deupi |Akihisa Terakita |Matthew Rodrigues

AbstractOpsins are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that have evolved to detect light stimuli and initiate intracellular signaling cascades. Their role as signal transducers is critical to light perception across the animal kingdom. Opsins covalently bind to the chromophore 11-cis retinal, which isomerizes to the all-trans isomer upon photon absorption, causing conformational changes that result in receptor activation.