Anti-S Opsin/BCP antibody

Supplementary info

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.

Activity summary

S Opsin also known as BCP or Blue Cone Photopigment is a protein involved in the visual phototransduction pathway. It belongs to the family of opsin proteins and has a mass of approximately 39 kDa. This protein is mainly expressed in the cone cells of the retina especially within the blue-sensitive cones that are responsible for color vision. S Opsin plays an important role in detecting short wavelengths of light enabling the perception of the color blue.

Biological function summary

S Opsin functions as a light-sensitive receptor involved in photoreception. It is part of the visual system complex interacting with other opsins such as L and M opsins which are sensitive to different wavelengths. Upon light activation S Opsin undergoes a conformational change which initiates a cascade of biochemical events leading to the hyperpolarization of cone cells. These signals transmit visual information from the retina to the brain contributing to color differentiation and visual acuity.

Pathways

S Opsin is integral to the phototransduction pathway an important process that converts light into electrical signals. This pathway involves various proteins including transducin a G-protein that interacts with opsins to propagate the signal initiated by light activation. Further along in the pathway phosphodiesterase acts to amplify the signal within the photoreceptor cells. The effective interaction of these proteins ensures the accurate transmission of visual information under different lighting conditions.

Associated diseases and disorders

Defects in S Opsin are linked to conditions like tritanopia which is a form of color blindness characterized by difficulty in distinguishing blue from green. The disorder is due to the absence or malfunction of S opsins in the retina. Additionally mutations in S Opsin have an association with enhanced S-cone syndrome where over-expression of S opsins can lead to night vision problems and other retinal issues. These connections highlight the importance of S Opsin in maintaining normal color vision and highlight potential areas of research for therapeutic interventions.