REVIEW: Photoreversible Reactions of Visual and Microbial Rhodopsins

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Mikhail A. Ostrovsky^1,2, Olga A. Smitienko^1,a* and Tatiana B. Feldman^1,2

¹Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia

²Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: April 19, 2026; Revised: May 26, 2026; Accepted: May 30, 2026

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The review discusses experimental findings and theoretical studies of photoreversible transformations of retinal-containing proteins (rhodopsins). Understanding these processes is essential for elucidating the mechanisms of photochemical and conformational transformations of these proteins. Particular emphasis is placed on visual rhodopsins, as photoreversibility plays a crucial role in its physiological regeneration in the rhabdoms of invertebrates and the cone photoreceptors of the vertebrate retina. In recent years, interest in the mechanisms of photoreversible reactions in retinal-containing proteins has grown substantially, driven by their potential applications as active components in optoelectronic devices and biosensors.

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KEY WORDS: retinal-containing proteins, visual rhodopsin, chromophore, photoreversible reactions, photoisomerization, photoregeneration, dark adaptation

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297926601267

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