The key residues that allow the conformation change is conserved in many such proteins from yeast to humans. Also, the key residues that make up the binding pocket of myristoyl group in the calcium-free state is also invariant. Rhodopsin, Recoverin and Vision Rhodopsin is a light receptor molecule. When a photon strikes rhodopsin, rhodopsin changes its conformation, and a series of molecular signaling events take place. The end result of all the molecular event is the sending of a neural signal to the brain to report that a photon has been received.
Eyes of mammals have various ways of adapting to many different light levels.
One is by adjusting the size of the iris. The other is by tagging phosphate groups to rhodopsin so that rhodopsin is less likely to initiate the signaling cascade. Recoverin is a calcium-binding protein with a relative molecular weight of 23 K. Recoverin is involved in the recovery phase of visual excitation and in adaptation to the background light. Calcium-bound form of recoverin slows down the activity of RK, thereby prolonging the light sensitivity of rhodopsin. Interesting to note is the location of recoverin molecules.