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FLASH GENE
Symbol OPN4 contributors: mct/shn - updated : 29-05-2013
HGNC name opsin 4
HGNC id 14449
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