Recoverin (RCVRN)

Recoverin is a 23 kilodalton (kDa) neuronal calcium-binding protein that is primarily detected in the photoreceptors of the eye. It plays a key role in the inhibition of rhodopsin kinase, a molecule which regulates the phosphorylation of rhodopsin. This ultimately controls the ability of the eye to adapt to, and recover from, exposure to the presence of light.The human cDNA clone also showed homology to the calcium-binding chick cone protein, visinin. Analysis of the gene indicated that it is present in single copy and is 9 to 10 kb long with at least 3 exons and 2 introns.The recoverin gene has 3 exons. All 3 EF-hand binding motifs are encoded in the first exon. The arrangement of introns relative to EF-hand calcium binding motifs is unique within the superfamily of EF-hand proteins, suggesting that recoverin defines a new subgroup.