opsin

noun

op·sin ˈäp-sən

: any of various colorless proteins that in combination with retinal or a related prosthetic group form a visual pigment (such as rhodopsin) in a reaction reversible by light

Examples of opsin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web By tracking changes in skin color, the light-sensitive opsins could allow hogfish to fine-tune their color changing to match their surroundings. —

Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Aug. 2023 The opsins actually reside in other cells that are located directly beneath them. —

Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 Aug. 2023 For animals, normal color vision is mostly determined by genes called visual opsins. —

Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 12 July 2023 The analysis revealed some fish living at great depths have multiple genes for rod opsin. —

Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 10 May 2019 Rod cells, by contrast, use rod opsin and are responsible for night vision. —

Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 10 May 2019 The genes srg-36 and srg-37 seem to fall into a second class of adaptive genes, including opsin genes and taste receptors... —

Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2011 If these cells fail (a common cause of vision loss), researchers can use viruses to deliver opsin-producing genes to targeted cells—either to restore light sensitivity to photoreceptors or to make other cell types in the retina sensitive to light. —

Simon Makin, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2021 The next opsin, halorhodopsin, which responds to yellow light, was discovered in 1977. —

Amy Barth, Discover Magazine, 24 Sep. 2012 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'opsin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from -opsin (in porphyropsin and rhodopsin)

Note: Term introduced by the American physiologist George Wald (1906-97) in "The Chemistry of Rod Vision," Science, vol. 113, issue 2933, March 16, 1951, p. 287: "Rhodopsin and porphyropsin are carotenoid-proteins—proteins bearing carotenoid prosthetic groups to which they owe their color and sensitivity to light. Each of these pigments possesses a single type of prosthetic group. The protein probably varies from one animal to another; it may be called opsin, and named for the animal of origin."

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of opsin was in 1951

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Opsin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opsin. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.

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Medical Definition

opsin

noun

op·sin ˈäp-sən

: any of various colorless proteins that in combination with retinal or a related prosthetic group form a visual pigment (as rhodopsin) in a reaction which is reversed by light