Opsins are the photoreceptors of animal retinas [1]: vertebrate rhodopsin is found in rod cells and mediates scotopic vision; red, green and blue opsins are found in cone cells and mediate photopic vision. The opsins from the lateral eyes and median ocelli of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, are likely to be the visible-wavelength rhodopsins in this animal [2]. In the lateral eye, expression of the opsin gene is restricted to the photoreceptor cells of the ommatidia [2]. Limulus opsins, and closely-related crayfish, mantid and honeybee rhodopsins, are most similar to the opsin from the R1-6 photoreceptors of flies.

• Q94741 OPS1_SCHGR
• P35360 OPS1_LIMPO

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1. Watson S., Arkinstall S.
   Opsins.
   In: The G-protein Linked Receptor Factsbook. Academic Press, London, 1994, pp.214-222. [ISBN 0127384405] [PUB00005667]
2. Smith W.C., Price D.A., Greenberg R.M., Battelle B.A.
   Opsins from the lateral eyes and ocelli of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus.
   Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90: 6150-6154(1993). [MEDLINE:93317641] [PUB00004821]