rhodopsin

Term: rhodopsin

Literally meaning: “redish-purple visual ”

Origin: Anc Greek

ρόδον/rodon(=rose) >ροδή/rode(=rosebush) >ραδανός/radanos(=soft, delicate, smooth)

+ώψ/ops(=sight, face, vision)

Coined/History

Rhodopsin named because of its redish-purple coloration on rod cells in retina which was noted by German anatomist Heinrich Muller)1820-1864). In 1876 Franz Boll(1849-1879) observed that the retina pigment became colorless when exposed to light. Willy Kuhne first characterized rhodopsin and the pigment cycle. In 1932, American scientist George Wald (1906-1997) discovered the retinal structure (opsin and retinal)

Source

Definition

Rhodopsin is a chromoprotein of the rod cells of retina that is extremely sensitive to light formed by an opsin protein and a derivative of vitamin A, retinal. Lack of rhodopsin results in night blindness.