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Channel Rhodopsins

Channel Rhodopsins

Most organisms use photoreceptors to sense and respond to light. Examples of photoreceptors include bacteriorhodopsins and bacteriophytochromes in some bacteria, phytochromes in plants, and rhodopsins in the photoreceptor cells of the vertebral retina. The light-sensitive property of these receptors is because of the bound chromophores, such as bilin in the phytochromes and retinal in the rhodopsins.
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...

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Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...

The Retina

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The retina is a layer of nervous tissue at the back of the eye that transduces light into neural signals. This process, called phototransduction, is carried out by rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the back of the retina.

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The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle layer, the vascular tunic,...

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In humans, the photoreceptor cells of the eye and sensory hair cells of the ear lack stem cells. These cells are thus unrenewable and cannot be replaced when they are damaged or destroyed.
Photoreceptors
The retina is composed of several layers and contains specialized cells called photoreceptors. The photoreceptors (rods and cones) change their membrane potential when stimulated by light energy. There are two types of photoreceptors—rods and cones—which differ in the shape of their outer...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

A Rhodopsin Transport Assay by High-Content Imaging Analysis

A Rhodopsin Transport Assay by High-Content Imaging Analysis

Published on: January 16, 2019

Dead Sea rhodopsins revisited.

Idan Bodaker¹, Marcelino T Suzuki, Aharon Oren

¹Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel.

Environmental Microbiology Reports

|June 14, 2013

Summary

Haloarchaea in the Dead Sea exhibit diverse rhodopsin gene profiles. Bacteriorhodopsin proton pumping may not solely determine dominant halophile types during microbial blooms.

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Environmental Science
Biochemistry

Background:

The Dead Sea is a hypersaline environment with high magnesium levels and acidic pH.
Previous studies identified a specific haloarchaeon dominating the 1992 Dead Sea microbial bloom.
Prokaryotic blooms in 1980-1982 were associated with bacteriorhodopsin, a light-driven proton pump.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of bacteriorhodopsin proton pumping in haloarchaeal dominance during Dead Sea blooms.
To compare rhodopsin gene profiles from different Dead Sea bloom periods.
To understand the diversity of haloarchaea in response to environmental conditions.

Main Methods:

Analysis of rhodopsin genes from Dead Sea biomass samples collected in 2007 and 2010.

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Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings for Electrophysiological Determination of Ion Selectivity in Channelrhodopsins

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A Rhodopsin Transport Assay by High-Content Imaging Analysis

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Methodology for Studying Interactions of Vitamin A Membrane Receptors and Opsin Protein with their Ligands in Generating the Retinylidene Protein

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Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings for Electrophysiological Determination of Ion Selectivity in Channelrhodopsins

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Published on: May 22, 2017

Comparison of recovered genes with retinal proteins from isolated haloarchaea.

Cultivation-independent analysis of microbial communities.

Main Results:

Novel bacteriorhodopsin and sensory rhodopsin genes were identified in 2007 and 2010 samples.
No rhodopsin genes were recovered from the 1992 bloom samples, which were dominated by a single species.
Distinct microbial clades were likely present in the 1980-1982 and 1992 blooms.

Conclusions:

The presence and diversity of rhodopsin genes varied across different Dead Sea bloom events.
Bacteriorhodopsin proton pumping did not appear to be the sole factor determining dominant halophile species.
Different haloarchaeal clades likely contributed to the distinct microbial communities observed in different bloom periods.