Molecular physiology of visual pigment rhodopsin

Abstract

The rhodopsin molecule key physiological functions are reviewed based on own and literature data. Molecular mechanisms of: visual pigments spectral tuning, photoisomerization of 11-cis retinal chromophore that triggers the phototransduction process, formation of physiologically active state of rhodopsin as a G-protein coupled receptor, rhodopsin visual cycle and consequence of its impairment are examined.