Writing in Cell, Jin and colleagues report that they have identified the long sought-after isomerase enzyme responsible for the regeneration of the visual pigment rhodopsin in the retina after light exposure.Light perception in vertebrates is mediated by rhodopsin, which is embedded in the disc membrane of rod cells. Rhodopsin is composed of a protein portion, opsin, which is a member of the G-protein-coupled receptor family, and a light-absorbing portion, 11-cis-retinaldehyde, which is a derivative of vitamin A.
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