2. Academic Validation
  3. Illuminating the molecular basis of human daylight vision

Illuminating the molecular basis of human daylight vision

  • Science. 2026 Jun 25;392(6805):eadz3624. doi: 10.1126/science.adz3624.
Sarah L Schmidt 1 2,  Jakub Dostal # 3,  Saumik Sen # 4 5,  Andrej Hovan 3,  Deborah Walter 1 6,  Martin V Appleby 7,  Asato Kojima 8 9,  Hideaki E Kato 8 9 10 11,  John H Beale 7,  Miroslav Kloz 3,  Gebhard F X Schertler 1,  Polina Isaikina 1 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Center for Life Sciences, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland.
  • 2 Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • 3 Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, ELI Beamlines Facility, Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic.
  • 4 Center for Scientific Computing, Theory and Data, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland.
  • 5 Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • 6 Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • 7 Center for Photon Science, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland.
  • 8 Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan.
  • 9 Department of Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan.
  • 10 FOREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan.
  • 11 CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 42348698 DOI: 10.1126/science.adz3624
Abstract

Photopic vision, including fast motion and color perception in daylight, is mediated by cone opsins, specialized G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Despite sharing the same chromophore, the three receptor subtypes absorb light at different wavelengths of the visible spectrum. The molecular mechanisms governing their spectral properties and exceptionally rapid responses remain largely unknown. We report cryo-electron microscopy structures of the human blue-sensitive (OPN1SW) and green-sensitive (OPN1MW) cone opsins in their dark-adapted states, combined with femtosecond-resolution spectroscopy, functional assays, and advanced simulations. The data reveal distinct chromophore stabilization mechanisms across human visual opsins and specific sequence adaptations in the GPCR microswitch motifs, underlining their structural plasticity and distinct activation mechanisms. These findings delineate the molecular basis of the evolutionary refinements fulfilling the needs of vision in daylight.

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