OPN4

Opsins are members of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptor superfamily. This gene encodes a photoreceptive opsin protein that is expressed within the ganglion and amacrine cell layers of the retina. In mouse, retinal ganglion cell axons expressing this gene projected to the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other brain nuclei involved in circadian photoentrainment. In mouse, this protein is coupled to a transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel through a G protein signaling pathway and produces a physiologic light response via membrane depolarization and increased intracellular calcium. The protein functions as a sensory photopigment and may also have photoisomerase activity. Experiments with knockout mice indicate that this gene attenuates, but does not abolish, photoentrainment. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]