Expression of peropsin in human skin is related to phototransduction of violet light in keratinocytes

Opsins are photosensitive receptor proteins mediating phototransduction, whereby photons absorbed are translated to cellular response.[1] Members of the opsin family belong to the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) superfamily.While many opsin members were originally discovered in the eye, several visual and non-visual opsins, including rhodopsin, short-wavelength opsin, melanopsin and neuropsin are also expressed in non-visual tissues such as the skin.[2,3] Previous study has suggested rhodopsin to contribute to UVA phototransduction in human epidermal melanocytes.[4] However, the role of these opsins in keratinocytes, the outermost skin layer constantly exposed to light, remains unclear.Peropsin, a new opsin member initially detected in human ocular tissue, [5] has never been described in the skin.Here, we examined the presence of peropsin in human skin and its potential role in keratinocytes.