Mao C, Li H, Zhang Z, Kiyama T, Panda S, Hattar S, Ribelayga C, Mills S, Wang S (2014) T-box transcription regulator Tbr2 is essential for the formation and maintenance of Opn4/melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. J Neurosci 34:13083-13095. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1027-14.2014 PMID: 25253855

Summary: Opsin 4/melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are responsible for controlling non-image-forming visual functions in the retina. The findings show that opsin 4 is only expressed in Tbr2-positive ipRGCs, no ipRGCs are found if Tbr2 is deleted before RGC specialization, and most ipRGCs are eliminated when Tbr2 is deleted from established ipRGCs. An antibody against melanopsin (Cat. #AB-N39) was used at a 1:1000 dilution for immunohistochemical analyses.

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N39)

Göz D, Studholme K, Lappi DA, Rollag MD, Provencio I, Morin LP (2008) Targeted destruction of photosensitive retinal ganglion cells with a saporin conjugate alters the effects of light on mouse circadian rhythms. PLoS ONE 3(9):e3153. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003153 PMID: 18773079

Summary: Retinal ganglion cells expressing melanopsin photopigment are thought to be involved in non-image forming visual responses to light. The authors had a custom conjugate made between saporin and an anti-melanopsin antibody. A 400-ng injection of the melanopsin-SAP conjugate into the eye of a mouse resulted in a 57% loss of the targeted cells. Rabbit IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-35) was used as a control. The data indicates that melanopsin-containing cells are involved in the response to certain non-image forming visual input.

Related Products: Melanopsin-SAP (Cat. #IT-44), Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal (Cat. #AB-N38), Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N39), Rabbit IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-35)

Panda S, Sato TK, Castrucci AM, Rollag MD, DeGrip WJ, Hogenesch JB, Provencio I, Kay SA (2002) Melanopsin (Opn4) requirement for normal light-induced circadian phase shifting. Science 298(5601):2213-2216. doi: 10.1126/science.1076848 PMID: 12481141

Objective: To investigate the role of melanopsin in circadian photoentrainment in mammals.

Summary: The study focused on understanding how melanopsin, an opsin-based photopigment, affects the circadian rhythms in mammals. By generating melanopsin-null mice and observing their response to light-induced circadian phase shifting, the research demonstrated that while these mice maintain some entrainment to light/dark cycles, their phase resetting in response to monochromatic light is severely attenuated. This highlights melanopsin’s critical role in circadian photoentrainment, alongside other mechanisms that contribute to this process.

Usage: Anti-Melanopsin (AB-N38) was incubated with tissue for 24 hr at 4°C at a 1:2,500 dilution in a TBS incubating buffer containing 1% bovine serum albumin, 0.25% carrageenan lambda and 0.003% Triton X-100.

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal (Cat. #AB-N38), Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N39)

Provencio I, Rodriguez IR, Jiang G, Hayes WP, Moreira EF, Rollag MD (2000) A novel human opsin in the inner retina. J Neurosci 20(2):600-605. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.20-02-00600.2000 PMID: 10632589

Summary: Provencio and colleagues found that melanopsin is also present in mouse retina, specifically in ganglion cells, and that it mediates non-visual photoreceptive tasks.

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal (Cat. #AB-N38), Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N39)

Provencio I, Jiang G, De Grip WJ, Hayes WP, Rollag MD (1998) Melanopsin: An opsin in melanophores, brain, and eye. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95(1):340-345. doi: 10.1073/pnas.95.1.340 PMID: 9419377

Summary: Melanopsin was discovered by Dr. Ignacio Provencio as a novel opsin in the melanophores (light-sensitive skin cells) of the African clawed frog.

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal (Cat. #AB-N38), Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N39)