2D8N595719674ENSG00000109047ENSMUSG00000020907P35243P34057NM_002903NM_009038NP_002894NP_033064Recoverin is a 23 kilodalton (kDa) neuronal calcium-binding protein that is primarily detected in the photoreceptor cells of the eye.

[6] A reduction in this inhibition helps regulate sensory adaptation in the retina, since the light-dependent channel closure in photoreceptors causes calcium levels to decrease, which relieves the inhibition of rhodopsin kinase by calcium-bound recoverin, leading to a more rapid inactivation of metarhodopsin II (activated form of rhodopsin).

Upon binding of recoverin to Ca2+, the group is extruded and inserted into rod membranes,[9] probably facilitating the interaction with membrane-bound GRK1.

Although Rh* naturally decays over time, rhodopsin kinase (GRK1) quenches it more rapidly through phosphorylation.

[16] Consequently, a flash of light in the dark triggers a prolonged response since recoverin at high [Ca2+] inhibits GRK1, resulting in a longer lifetime for Rh*.

[18] This decrease is probably due to a temporal accumulation of single flash responses of shorter duration with unaltered peak amplitude at lowered [Ca2+].