OPN1MW Chromosome X

This gene encodes for a light absorbing visual pigment of the opsin gene family. The encoded protein is called green cone photopigment or medium-wavelength sensitive opsin. Opsins are G-protein coupled receptors with seven transmembrane domains, an N-terminal extracellular domain, and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. The long-wavelength opsin gene and multiple copies of the medium-wavelength opsin gene are tandemly arrayed on the X chromosome and frequent unequal recombination and gene conversion may occur between these sequences. X chromosomes may have fusions of the medium- and long-wavelength opsin genes or may have more than one copy of these genes. Defects in this gene are the cause of deutanopic colorblindness. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2009]