Rhodopsin reconstitution in bleached rod outer segment membranes in the presence of a retinal‐binding protein from the honeybee

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Abstract
The physiological role of a retinal‐binding protein from honeybee is investigated. This protein, upon previous loading with all‐trans retinal and subsequent irradiation with monochromatic light of wavelength 490 nm, is able to promote the reconstitution of rhodopsin when added to a suspension of opsin membranes from bleached bovine rod outer segments. In this respect this retinal‐binding protein could have a role very similar to that postulated for the well‐known cephalopod retinochrome, that serves to catalyze the formation in the presence of light of 11‐cis retinal in photoreceptor cells and to provide it for the reconstitution of rhodopsin during the visual cycle.