title: The G protein-coupled receptor rhodopsin: a historical perspective.
abstract: Rhodopsin is a key light-sensitive protein expressed exclusively in rod photoreceptor cells of the retina. Failure to express this transmembrane protein causes a lack of rod outer segment formation and progressive retinal degeneration, including the loss of cone photoreceptor cells. Molecular studies of rhodopsin have paved the way to understanding a large family of cell-surface membrane proteins called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Work started on rhodopsin over 100 years ago still continues today with substantial progress made every year. These activities underscore the importance of rhodopsin as a prototypical GPCR and receptor required for visual perception-the fundamental process of translating light energy into a biochemical cascade of events culminating in vision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palczewski
mesh_terms: D000215:Acylation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D055537:Light Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D054878:Lipoylation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D012243:Rhodopsin