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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of rhodopsin

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

Example Sentences

"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

These include the rhodopsin molecules in the retina of the eye, which play a crucial role in converting light into the electrical signals that create our sense of vision in the brain.

From Science Daily

This can happen with all kinds of genetic information and is particularly common with rhodopsin proteins.

From Science Daily

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

From Science Magazine

But whatever they do, the sharks rely on a light-sensing pigment in their retinas called rhodopsin to navigate the dark waters.

From Science Magazine