ArticleMolecular biology and evolution2021
Convergent Phenotypic Evolution of Rhodopsin for Dim-Light Sensing across Deep-Diving Vertebrates.
Article in Molecular biology and evolution, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evolutionary Shifts in Rhodopsin Function Illuminate Dim-Light Adaptations in Birds.Integrative zoology · 2026Article
- Evolutionary Transitions Drive Molecular Adaptation in Sculpin Rhodopsin.Journal of molecular evolution · 2026Article
- A Pentaradial and Bilateral Combined Photoreception System in the Sea Cucumber is Mediated by a Blue Light-Sensitive R-Opsin.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Visual pigments of basal lineages of bony fishes support independent ecological shifts from a shallow marine to a freshwater niche.Evolution letters · 2026Article
- Pressure-tolerant Evolution in Rhodopsin of Deep-diving Whales.Genome biology and evolution · 2026Article
- Comparative phenotypic analysis of rhodopsin supports stepwise evolution of dim-light vision in early vertebrates.Molecular biology and evolution · 2026Article
- Genomic and phenotypic evidence support visual and olfactory shifts in primate evolution.Nature ecology & evolution · 2025Article
- Widespread and Convergent Evolution of Cone Monochromacy in Galeomorph Sharks.Molecular biology and evolution · 2025Article
- Parallel Spectral Tuning of a Cone Visual Pigment Provides Evidence for Ancient Deep-Sea Adaptations in Cetaceans.Genome biology and evolution · 2024Article
- Functional diversification process of opsin genes for teleost visual and pineal photoreceptions.Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS · 2024Article
- Convergent evolutionary shifts in rhodopsin retinal release explain shared opsin repertoires in monotremes and crocodilians.Proceedings. Biological sciences · 2023Article
- Diversified Mammalian Visuasl Adaptations to Bright- or Dim-Light Environments.Molecular biology and evolution · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Rhodopsin comprises an opsin attached to a retinal chromophore and is the only visual pigment conferring dim-light vision in vertebrates. On activation by photons, the retinal group becomes detached from the opsin, which is then inactive until it is recharged. Of all vertebrate species, those that dive face unique visual challenges, experiencing rapid decreases in light level and hunting in near darkness. Here, we combine sequence analyses with functional assays to show that the rhodopsin pigments of four divergent lineages of deep-diving vertebrates have undergone convergent increases in their retinal release rate. We compare gene sequences and detect parallel amino acids between penguins and diving mammals and perform mutagenesis to show that a single critical residue fully explains the observed increases in retinal release rate in both the emperor penguin and beaked whale. At the same time, we find that other shared sites have no significant effect on retinal release, implying that convergence does not always signify adaptive significance. We propose that accelerated retinal release confers rapid rhodopsin recharging, enabling the visual systems of diving species to adjust quickly to changing light levels as they descend through the water column. This contrasts with nocturnal species, where adaptation to darkness has been attributed to slower retinal release rates.
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