Convergent evolution of animal and microbial rhodopsins

, G protein-coupled receptors and photoisomerases for animal rhodopsins and ion transporters and phototaxis sensors for microbial rhodopsins). Therefore, based on their similarities and dissimilarities, we propose that animal and microbial rhodopsins have convergently evolved from their distinctive origins as multi-colored retinal-binding membrane proteins whose activities are regulated by light and heat but independently evolved for different molecular and physiological functions in the cognate organism.