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Symbol OPN4 contributors: mct/shn - updated : 29-05-2013
HGNC name opsin 4
HGNC id 14449
EXPRESSION
Type restricted
   expressed in (based on citations)
organ(s)
SystemOrgan level 1Organ level 2Organ level 3Organ level 4LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
Visualeyeretina    Homo sapiensAdult
 eyeretina    Mus musculusAdult
tissue
SystemTissueTissue level 1Tissue level 2LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
Epithelialbarrier liningretinal pigment epithelium (RPE)   Homo sapiensAdult
Epithelialsensoryvisualinner nuclear layer  Homo sapiensAdult
cells
SystemCellPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
Visualamacrine cell Mus musculusAdult
Visualganglion cell Homo sapiensAdult
Visualganglion cell Mus musculusAdult
VisualMuller cell Homo sapiensAdult
cell lineage
cell lines
fluid/secretion
at STAGE
PROTEIN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
STRUCTURE
motifs/domains
seven transmembrane receptor
HOMOLOGY
interspecies ortholog to Opn4, Mus musculus
ortholog to OPN4, Pan troglodytes
ortholog to Opn4 , Rattus norvegicus
Homologene
FAMILY
  • family 1 of G protein coupled receptors
  • OPSIN subfamily
  • CATEGORY receptor membrane G
    SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION     plasma membrane
    text
  • dendritis cell locus proximal axonal regions
  • expressed in PACAP-containing retinal ganglion cells of the retinohypothalamic tract
  • basic FUNCTION
  • mediating regulation of circadian rhythms and acute suppression of pineal melatonin visual pigments of phototransducing RGC that set the circadian clock and initiate other non-image-forming visual functions
  • contributes significantly to the magnitude of photic responses
  • critical role of melanopsin in circadian photoentrainment in mammals
  • could activate the cation channel TRPC3
  • acts as a sensory photopigment, coupled to a native ion channel via a G-protein signalling cascade, to drive physiological light detection
  • triggers the release of internal calcium stores in response to light
  • photopigment that confers photosensitivity upon intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells
  • photoreceptive molecule regulating circadian systems in mammals
  • OPN4 signalling exists in both iris and retina, involving a PLCB4-mediated pathway that nonetheless diverges in the two locations
  • employs potentially a bistable sequential photon absorption mechanism typical of rhabdomeric opsins
  • CELLULAR PROCESS
    PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS circadian
    PATHWAY
    metabolism
    signaling sensory transduction/vision
    a component
    INTERACTION
    DNA
    RNA
    small molecule
    protein
    cell & other
    REGULATION
    ASSOCIATED DISORDERS
    corresponding disease(s)
    Susceptibility
    Variant & Polymorphism
    Candidate gene
    Marker
    Therapy target
    ANIMAL & CELL MODELS
  • melanopsin knockout mice entrained to a light/dark cycle, phase-shifted after a light pulse, and increased circadian period when light intensity increased
  • melanopsin-null mice (Opn4-/-) display severely attenuated phase resetting in response to brief pulses of monochromatic light
  • retinal ganglion cells of melanopsin-knockout mice were no longer intrinsically photosensitive, but their number, morphology, and projections were normal
  • mice lacking melanopsin coupled with disabled rod and cone phototransduction mechanisms have an intact retina but fail to show any significant pupil reflex, to entrain to light/dark cycles, and to show any masking response to light
  • mice with both outer-retinal degeneration and a deficiency in melanopsin exhibited complete loss of photoentrainment of the circadian oscillator, pupillary light responses, photic suppression of arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase transcript, and acute suppression of locomotor activity by light