Retinal

A small molecule that absorbs a photon to begin the Phototransduction Pathway.

Retinal is the Chromophore at the center of every human Opsin. When it is absorbs a photon, it isomerizes (its ‘tail’ kinks), and this sets off the chain reaction that eventually reaches the brain. The Retinal must then leave the Opsin and travel to a different cell in order to be reset.

Retinal is a form of Vitamin A.

Its Peak Sensitivity is 370nm when not coupled with an Opsin.