coneopsin

Coneopsin is a type of opsin protein found in the cone cells of the retina. Opsin proteins are light-sensitive molecules that are essential for vision. They are part of the photoreceptor cells in the eye, which are responsible for detecting light and converting it into electrical signals that the brain can interpret. Specifically, coneopsins are associated with color vision.

There are different types of coneopsins, each sensitive to different wavelengths of light, corresponding to different colors. In humans, there are three main types of coneopsins: short-wavelength sensitive (SWS1), medium-wavelength sensitive (MWS), and long-wavelength sensitive (LWS). These are often referred to as the blue, green, and red cones, respectively, although their peak sensitivities are not perfectly aligned with these primary color names. The combination of signals from these different cone types allows humans to perceive a wide spectrum of colors.

The genes encoding human coneopsins are located on the X chromosome. Mutations in these genes can lead to various forms of color blindness, such as red-green color blindness. The study of coneopsins is crucial for understanding the mechanisms of color vision and the genetic basis of color vision deficiencies.