OPN1LW
OPN1LW (opsin 1, long wave sensitive, also known as long-wave-sensitive opsin 1, red cone photopigment, COD5, CBBM, RCP and CBP) is a G protein-coupled photoreceptor of cone cells. It mediates the visual perception of red light. Browse Assay Genie's current range of OPN1LW research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
OPN1LW is a G protein-coupled photoreceptor that selectively activates the transducin G alpha protein (G(t)) in response to long-wavelength, red light. Phototransduction begins when the opsin-bound cis-retinal chromophore absorbs a photon and isomerises to all-trans-retinal. This induces a conformational change in the opsin and triggers the G protein-mediated cascade. Activated transducin raises cGMP phosphodiesterase activity, which lowers intracellular cGMP and closes cGMP-gated ion channels. Through this pathway the protein mediates red light perception in cone photoreceptor cells.
The OPN1LW gene encodes a light-absorbing visual pigment of the opsin gene family, called red cone photopigment or long-wavelength sensitive opsin. Like other opsins it is a G protein-coupled receptor with seven transmembrane domains, an N-terminal extracellular domain and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. It belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor 1 family, opsin subfamily, and sits in the membrane of the photoreceptor outer segment.
The gene lies in tandem with the medium-wavelength opsin gene on the X chromosome. Frequent unequal recombination and gene conversion can occur between the two sequences. As a result, X chromosomes may carry fusions of the medium- and long-wavelength opsin genes, or more than one copy of these genes. Defects in OPN1LW cause partial, protanopic colorblindness. Earlier names include colour blindness, protan and red cone photoreceptor pigment, and HGNC classes the gene in the opsin receptors group.
OPN1LW mediates red light perception in cone cells, making it a central protein for studying how long-wavelength colour vision works.
Light-activated OPN1LW engages transducin, cGMP phosphodiesterase and cGMP-gated channels, providing a defined GPCR cascade to investigate.
Defects in OPN1LW cause partial, protanopic colorblindness, so the gene is relevant to inherited colour vision disorders.
Tandem arrangement with the medium-wavelength opsin gene allows unequal recombination, gene conversion and fusions, which are useful for studying X-linked variation.
OPN1LW is a G protein-coupled photoreceptor in cone cells. After its cis-retinal chromophore absorbs red light and isomerises to all-trans-retinal, it activates transducin. This lowers cGMP through increased phosphodiesterase activity and closes cGMP-gated ion channels, mediating the perception of red light.
OPN1LW is also called long-wave-sensitive opsin 1, red cone photopigment, long-wavelength sensitive opsin, COD5, CBBM, RCP and CBP. Previous names include colour blindness, protan, and opsin 1 (cone pigments), long-wave-sensitive.
Defects in the OPN1LW gene cause partial, protanopic colorblindness. The gene is tandemly arrayed with the medium-wavelength opsin gene on the X chromosome, where unequal recombination and gene conversion can produce fusion genes or extra copies.
Other opsin photoreceptors and visual phototransduction targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P04000; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.