Molecular determinants of spectral properties and signal transduction in the visual pigments

Site-directed mutagenesis of the visual pigment rhodopsin has provided a wealth of information regarding amino acid residues responsible for the determination of the spectral properties of the chromophore, the amino acids involved in activation and inactivation of the protein, and the effect of amino acid substitutions found in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. In addition, cell culture systems have now been established for expression of the three human color vision pigments, opening the way for a similar attack on the structure and function of these important proteins.