Supramolecular photochemistry in natural systems

The rod and cone cells found in the retina of the eye are functional supramolecular devices involved in information processing. Rod cells function in dim light and are black and white receptors while cones are colour receptors. 

The photochemistry of vision provides us with an example of host-guest supramolecular photochemistry where the smaller 11-cis-retinal guest molecule is held within the internal cavity of the much larger protein host molecule (opsin) as a result of noncovalent bonding. 

Because of this photoisomerisation, structural changes occur within the confines of the binding cavity, which in turn produce changes in the opsin and the attached cell-membrane protein. This results in functional changes to the cell membrane, culminating in generation of a signal impulse which is sent to the brain. 

In colour vision there are three specific types of cone cell corresponding to red, green and blue receptors. The chromophore is the same for all three colours, being 11-cis-retinal bound to a protein which is structurally similar to opsin. Colour selectivity is achieved by positioning specific amino acid side chains along the chromophore so as to perturb the absorption spectrum of the chromophore. 

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