Opsin

Three-dimensional structure of bovine rhodopsin. The seven transmembrane domains are shown in varying colors. The chromophore is shown in red.

Opsins are a group of light-sensitive proteins found in photoreceptor cells of the retina. Five classical groups of opsins are involved in vision, mediating the conversion of a photon of light into an electrochemical signal, the first step in the visual transduction cascade. Another opsin found in the mammalian retina, melanopsin, is involved in circadian rhythms and pupillary reflex but not in image-forming.

Opsin classification

Opsins can be classified in any of several ways, including function (vision, phototaxis, photoperiodism, etc.), type of chromophore (retinal, flavine, bilin), molecular structure (tertiary, quaternary), signal output (phosphorylation, reduction, oxidation), etc.

There are two groups of protein termed opsins. type I opsins are employed by prokaryotes and - as the protein component of channelrhodopsins - by some algae, whereas animals use type II opsins. No opsins have been found outside these groups (for instance in plants, fungi, or placozoans).

At one time it was thought that type I and type II were related because of structural and functional similarities. With the advent of genetic sequencing it became apparent that sequence identity was no greater than could be accounted for by random chance. However, in recent years new methods have been developed specific to deep phylogeny. As a result, several studies have found evidence of a possible phylogenetic relationship. According to one hypothesis, both type-I and type-II opsins belong to the transporter-opsin-G protein-coupled receptor (TOG) superfamily, a proposed clade that includes G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), Ion-translocating microbial rhodopsin (MR), and seven others.

Type I opsins

Main article: Microbial rhodopsin

Like type II opsins, type I opsins have a seven transmembrane domain structure similar to that found in eukaryotic G-protein coupled receptors.

Type I opsins (also known as microbial opsins) are found in all three domains of life: Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryota. In Eukaryota, type I opsins are found mainly in unicellular organisms such as green algae, and in fungi. In most complex multicellular eukaryotes, type I opsins have been replaced with other light-sensitive molecules such as cryptochrome and phytochrome in plants, and type II opins in Metazoa (animals).

Microbial opsins are often known by the rhodopsin form of the molecule, i.e., rhodopsin (in the broad sense) = opsin + chromophore. Among the many kinds of microbial opsins are the proton pumps bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and xanthorhodopsin (xR), the chloride pump halorhodopsin (HR) the photosensors sensory rhodopsin I (SRI) and sensory rhodopsin II (SRII), as well as proteorhodopsin (PR), Neurospora opsin I (NOPI), Chlamydomonas sensory rhodopsins A (CSRA), Chlamydomonas sensory rhodopsins B (CSRB), channelrhodopsin (ChR), archaerhodopsin (Arch), xanthorhodopsin, and archaerhodopsin.

Several type I opsins, such as proteo- and bacteriorhodopsin, are used by various bacterial groups to harvest energy from light to carry out metabolic processes using a non-chlorophyll-based pathway. Beside that, halorhodopsins of Halobacteria and channelrhodopsins of some algae, e.g. Volvox, serve them as light-gated ion channels, amongst others also for phototactic purposes. Sensory rhodopsins exist in Halobacteria that induce a phototactic response by interacting with transducer membrane-embedded proteins that have no relation to G proteins.

Type II opsins

Type II opsins (or animal opsins) are seven-transmembrane proteins (35–55 kDa) belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily.

Type II opsins fall phylogenetically into four groups: C-opsins (Ciliary), Cnidops (cnidarian opsins), R-opsins (rhabdomeric), and Go/RGR opsins (also known as RGR/Go or Group 4 opsins). The Go/RGR opsins are divided into four sub-clades: Go-opsins, RGR, Peropsins, and Neuropsins. C-opsins, R-opsins, and the Go/RGR opsins are found only in Bilateria.

Type II visual opsins are traditionally classified as either ciliary or rhabdomeric. Ciliary opsins, found in vertebrates and cnidarians, attach to ciliary structures such as rods and cones. Rhabdomeric opsins are attached to light-gathering organelles called rhabdomeres. This classification cuts across phylogenetic categories (clades) so that both the terms "ciliary" and "rhabdomeric" can be ambiguous. Here, "C-opsins (ciliary)" refers to a clade found exclusively in Bilateria and excludes cnidarian ciliary opsins such as those found in the box jellyfish. Similarly, "R-opsin (rhabdomeric)" includes melanopsin even though it does not occur on rhabdomeres in vertebrates.

C-opsins (ciliary)

Ciliary opsins (or c-opsins) are expressed in ciliary photoreceptor cells, and include the vertebrate visual opsins and encephalopsins. They convert light signals to nerve impulses via cyclic nucleotide gated ion channels, which work by increasing the charge differential across the cell membrane (i.e. hyperpolarization.)

Vertebrate visual opsins

Vertebrate visual opsins are a subset of C-opsins (ciliary). They are expressed in the vertebrate retina and mediate vision. They can be further subdivided into rod opsins and four types of cone opsin. Rod opsins (rhodopsins, usually denoted Rh), are used in dim-light vision, are thermally stable, and are found in the rod photoreceptor cells. Cone opsins, employed in color vision, are less-stable opsins located in the cone photoreceptor cells. Cone opsins are further subdivided according to their absorption maxima (λ_max), the wavelength at which the highest light absorption is observed. Evolutionary relationships, deduced using the amino acid sequence of the opsins, are also frequently used to categorize cone opsins into their respective group. Both methods predict four general cone opsin groups in addition to rhodopsin.

	LWS SWS1 SWS2 Rh2 Rh1

Vertebrates typically have four cone opsins (LWS, SWS1, SWS2, and Rh2) inherited from the first vertebrate (and thus predating the first vertebrate), as well as the rod opsin, rhodopsin (Rh1), which emerged after the first vertebrate but before the first Gnathostome (jawed vertebrate). These five opsins emerged through a series of gene duplications beginning with LWS and ending with Rh1. Each one has since evolved into numerous variants and thus constitutes an opsin family or subtype.

Name	Abbr.	photo receptor	λmax	color	human variant
long-wave sensitive	LWS	cone	500–570 nm	green, yellow, red	OPN1LW "red" / OPN1MW "green"
short-wave sensitive 1	SWS1	cone	355–445 nm	ultraviolet, violet	OPN1SW "blue"
short-wave sensitive 2	SWS2	cone	400–470 nm	violet, blue	(extinct in therian mammals)
rhodopsin-like 2	Rh2	cone	480–530 nm	green	(extinct in mammals)
rhodopsin-like 1 (vertebrate rhodopsin)	Rh1	rod	~500 nm	blue-green	OPN2 = Rho = human rhodopsin

Humans have the following set of photoreceptor proteins responsible for vision:

• Rhodopsin (Rh1, OPN2, RHO) – expressed in rod cells, used in night vision
• Three cone opsins (also known as photopsins) – expressed in cone cells, used in color vision
  • Long Wavelength Sensitive (OPN1LW) Opsin – λ_max of 560 nm, in the yellow-green region of the electromagnetic spectrum. May be called the "red opsin", "L opsin" or "LWS opsin." Note that despite its common name as the "red" opsin, this opsin's peak sensitivity is not in the red region of the spectrum. However, it is more sensitive to red than the other two human opsins. This receptor also has a secondary response in the violet high frequencies
  • Middle Wavelength Sensitive (OPN1MW) Opsin – λ_max of 530 nm, in the green region of the electromagnetic spectrum. May be called the "green opsin", "M opsin" or "MWS opsin."
  • Short Wavelength Sensitive (OPN1SW) Opsin – λ_max of 430 nm, in the blue region of the electromagnetic spectrum. May be called the "blue opsin", "S opsin" or "SWS opsin."

Pinopsins

The first Pineal Opsin (Pinopsin) was found in the chicken pineal gland. It is a blue sensitive opsin (λ_max = 470 nm).

wide range of expression in the brain, most notably in the pineal region

Vertebrate Ancient (VA) opsin

Vertebrate Ancient (VA) opsin has three isoforms VA short (VAS), VA medium (VAM), and VA long (VAL). It is expressed in the inner retina, within the horizontal and amacrine cells, as well as the pineal organ and habenular region of the brain. It is sensitive to approximately 500 nm [14], found in most vertebrate classes, but not in mammals.

parapinopsin

Parapinopsin (PP) Opsin

Parietopsins

The first parietopsin was found in the photoreceptor cells of the lizard parietal eye. The lizard parietopsin is green-sensitive (λ_max = 522 nm), and despite it is a c-opsin, like the vertebrate visual opsins, it does not induce hyperpolarization via a Gt-protein, but induces depolarization via a Go-protein.

OPN3 (Encephalopsin or Panopsin)

Encephalopsins are expressed throughout the mammalian heart. They are also expressed in ciliary photoreceptor cells in annelids, and in the brains of some insects. Originally found in human and mice tissue with a very wide range of expression (brain, testes, heart, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, lung, pancreas and retina

Teleost Multiple Tissue (TMT) Opsin

Teleost fish opsin with a wide range of expression

Cnidops (cnidarian)

Cnidaria, which include jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones, are the most basal animals to possess complex eyes. At least some cnidarian opsins make use of the Gs signalling pathway.

Gs-opsins

Gs-opsins have only been found in cnidarians.

r-opsins (rhabdomeric) / Gq-coupled

Rhabdomeric opsins (or r-opsins) are also known as Gq-opsins, because they couple to a Gq-protein. R-opsins are used by molluscs and arthropods. Arthropods appear to attain colour vision in a similar fashion to the vertebrates, by using three (or more) distinct groups of opsins, distinct both in terms of phylogeny and spectral sensitivity. The r-opsin melanopsin is also expressed in vertebrates, where it regulates circadian rhythms and mediates the pupillary reflex.

Unlike c-opsins, r-opsins are associated with canonical transient receptor potential ion channels; these lead to the electric potential difference across a cell membrane being eradicated (i.e. depolarization).

The identification of the crystal structure of squid rhodopsin is likely to further our understanding of its function in this group.

Arthropods use different opsins in their different eye types, but at least in Limulus the opsins expressed in the lateral and the compound eyes are 99% identical and presumably diverged recently.

Melanopsin OPN4

Involved in circadian rhythms, pupillary reflex, and color correction in high-brightness situations. Phylogenetically a member of the R-opsin (rhabdomeric) group, functionally and structurally an r-opsin, but does not occur in rhabdomeres.

Go/RGR (Group 4) opsins

Go/RGR opsins include Go-opsins, RGR-opsins, neuropsins, and peropsins.

Go-opsins

Go-opsins are absent from higher vertebrates and ecdysozoans. They are found in the ciliary photoreceptor cells of the scallop eye and the basal chordate amphioxus. In Platynereis dumerilii however, a Go-opsin is expressed in the rhabdomeric photoreceptor cells of the eyes.

RGR opsins (photoisomerases)

RGR opsins, also known as Retinal G protein coupled receptors, are not coupled to a G-protein, and thus do not induce signal transduction, but serve to traffic retinal around in response to light. They are expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Müller cells

Peropsin

Peropsin, a visual pigment-like receptor, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RRH gene.

Neuropsins

Neuropsins are sensitive to UVA, typically at 380 nm. They are found in the brain, testes, skin, and retina of humans and rodents, as well as in the brain and retina of birds. In birds and rodents they mediate ultraviolet vision. In the human retina, their function is unknown. In humans Neuropsin is encoded by the OPN5 gene. In the mouse, it photo-entrains the retina and cornea at least ex vivo.

Unclassified

Extraretinal (or extra-ocular) Rhodopsin-Like Opsins (Exo-Rh)

These pineal opsins, found in the Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) apparently arose as a result of gene duplication from Rh1 (rhodopsin). These opsins appear to serve functions similar to those of pinopsin found in birds and reptiles.

Structure and function

Opsin proteins covalently bind to a vitamin A-based retinaldehyde chromophore through a Schiff base linkage to a lysine residue in the seventh transmembrane alpha helix. In vertebrates, the chromophore is either 11-cis-retinal (A1) or 11-cis-3,4-didehydroretinal (A2) and is found in the retinal binding pocket of the opsin. The absorption of a photon of light results in the photoisomerization of the chromophore from the 11-cis to an all-trans conformation. The photoisomerization induces a conformational change in the opsin protein, causing the activation of the phototransduction cascade. The opsin remains insensitive to light in the trans form. It is regenerated by the replacement of the all-trans retinal by a newly synthesized 11-cis-retinal provided from the retinal epithelial cells. Opsins are functional while bound to either chromophore, with A2-bound opsin λ_max being at a longer wavelength than A1-bound opsin.

Opsins contain seven transmembrane α-helical domains connected by three extra-cellular and three cytoplasmic loops. Many amino acid residues, termed functionally conserved residues, are highly conserved between all opsin groups, indicative of important functional roles. All residue positions discussed henceforth are relative to the 348 amino acid bovine rhodopsin crystallized by Palczewski et al. Lys296 is conserved in all known opsins and serves as the site for the Schiff base linkage with the chromophore. Cys138 and Cys110 form a highly conserved disulfide bridge. Glu113 serves as the counterion, stabilizing the protonation of the Schiff linkage between Lys296 and the chromophore. The Glu134-Arg135-Tyr136 is another highly conserved motif, involved in the propagation of the transduction signal once a photon has been absorbed.

Certain amino acid residues, termed spectral tuning sites, have a strong effect on λ_max values. Using site-directed mutagenesis, it is possible to selectively mutate these residues and investigate the resulting changes in light absorption properties of the opsin. It is important to differentiate spectral tuning sites, residues that affect the wavelength at which the opsin absorbs light, from functionally conserved sites, residues important for the proper functioning of the opsin. They are not mutually exclusive, but, for practical reasons, it is easier to investigate spectral tuning sites that do not affect opsin functionality. For a comprehensive review of spectral tuning sites see Yokoyama and Deeb. The impact of spectral tuning sites on λ_max differs between different opsin groups and between opsin groups of different species.

Opsins in the human eye, brain, and skin

Abbr.	Name	λmax	color	eye	brain	skin	Chromosomal location a
OPN1LW	L-cone (red-cone) opsin	557 nm	yellow	cone	---	---	Xq28
OPN1MW	M-cone (green-cone) opsin	527 nm	green	cone	---	---	Xq28
OPN1SW	S-cone (blue-cone) opsin	420 nm	violet	cone	---	melanocytes, keratinocytes	7q32.1
OPN2 (RHO)	Rhodopsin	505 nm	blue-green	rod	---	melanocytes, keratinocytes	3q22.1
OPN3	encephalopsin, panopsin	S-M	blue-green	rod, cone, OPL, IPL, GCL	ubiquitous	melanocytes, keratinocytes	1q43
OPN4	melanopsin	480 nm	sky blue	ipRGC	cerebral cortex	---	10q23.2
OPN5	neuropsin	380 nm	ultraviolet	neural retina, RPE	anterior hypothalamus	melanocytes, keratinocytes	6p12.3
RRH	peropsin	?	?	RPE cells - microvilli	---	---	4q25
RGR	Retinal G protein coupled receptor	?	?	RPE cells	---	---	10q23.1

RPE = retinal pigment epithelium; ipRGC = intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells; OPL = outer plexiform layer; IPL = inner plexiform layer; GCL = ganglion cell layer

See also

• Retinylidene protein
• Visual cycle
• Visual phototransduction
• Microbial rhodopsin
• Channelrhodopsins

External links

• Review of opsins and current research:
• Illustration at Baldwin-Wallace College
• Opsin at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)