rhodopsin

American  

[roh-dop-sin] / roʊˈdɒp sɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a bright-red photosensitive pigment found in the rod-shaped cells of the retina of certain fishes and most higher vertebrates: it is broken down by the action of dim light into retinal and opsin.

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rhodopsin British  

/ rəʊˈdɒpsɪn /

noun

1. Also called: visual purple.  a red pigment in the rods of the retina in vertebrates. It is dissociated by light into retinene, the light energy being converted into nerve signals, and is re-formed in the dark See also iodopsin

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Etymology

Origin of rhodopsin

1885–90; rhod- + Greek óps ( is ) sight, vision + -in ²

Example Sentences

To circumvent this issue, the researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine genetically modified mice to have a low expression of G90D, a level equal to .1% of normal rhodopsin found in the natural population of mice.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2024

"The mechanism that causes G90D night blindness could be similar in the three other rhodopsin mutations that cause this condition," Chai says.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2024

For instance, misfolded rhodopsin causes retinitis pigmentosa, a congenital blinding disease that is currently untreatable.

From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 2024

They homed in on a protein known as rhodopsin, which doesn’t require a large molecular entourage.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 18, 2023

In the outer part of the rods the visual purple or rhodopsin is found.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 1 "Evangelical Church Conference" to "Fairbairn, Sir William" by Various