A newly identified visual protein in dragonflies enables the detection of deep red and near-infrared light through a mechanism remarkably akin to that found in human vision, representing an unanticipated instance of convergent evolution with potential implications for medical science, according to novel research originating from Osaka Metropolitan University.
Asiagomphus melaenops female in Miroku forest, Kasugai, Aichi prefecture, Japan. Image credit: Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 4.0.
The perception of light hues in humans is facilitated by a protein known as opsin within the ocular structure.
In the human visual system, three distinct kinds of opsins—tuned to blue, green, and red light—are instrumental in conferring color perception.
Among the insect class, dragonflies exhibit an exceptional acuity for the color red.
In their recent investigation, Professor Mitsumasa Koyanagi and his research cohort at Osaka Metropolitan University successfully isolated a dragonfly opsin capable of registering light at approximately 720 nanometers, a wavelength situated beyond the deepest crimson end of the human visible spectrum.
“This represents one of the most red-light sensitive visual pigments ever documented,” stated Professor Akihisa Terakita of Osaka Metropolitan University.
“It is probable that dragonflies possess the capacity to discern light at deeper red wavelengths than is typical for most insects.”
The investigative team posited that this heightened sensitivity might serve to assist dragonflies in identifying appropriate reproductive partners.
To rigorously assess this hypothesis, they quantified reflectance, which is the measure of light an object bounces back. Within the context of dragonflies, this reflected light plays a role in their visual presentation to conspecifics.
The scientists observed notable disparities in red to near-infrared light reflectance between male and female Asiagomphus melaenops dragonflies, indicating that the perception of these specific wavelengths aids males in rapidly differentiating between individuals of the opposite sex whilst in flight.
“Remarkably, the operational mechanism by which the red opsin of dragonflies perceives red light is precisely the same as that employed by the red opsin in mammals, including humans,” commented Ryu Sato, a graduate student at Osaka Metropolitan University.
“This finding is unexpected and suggests that an identical evolutionary pathway has transpired independently in lineages that are evolutionarily distant from one another.”
Furthermore, the authors elucidated a critical insight that could facilitate the translation of this discovery into practical, real-world applications.
They successfully identified a singular, pivotal amino acid residue within the protein structure that governs its light sensitivity.
Upon modifying this specific site, the sensitivity was further augmented, enabling the protein to respond to light frequencies approximating the infrared range.
The researchers then engineered an altered version of the protein designed to react to even longer wavelengths and demonstrated that cells augmented with this modified protein could be activated by near-infrared light.
These preliminary findings hold considerable promise for the field of optogenetics, which leverages light-sensitive proteins activated by light to probe and understand biological processes and medical conditions.
Given that the dragonfly opsin exhibits responsiveness to longer wavelengths of light, it is anticipated to perform more effectively within deeper biological tissues.
“In this research endeavor, we have successfully shifted the spectral sensitivity of a genetically modified near-infrared opsin derived from Gomphidae dragonflies to even longer wavelengths and have verified that this modified opsin can indeed trigger cellular responses when exposed to near-infrared light,” conveyed Professor Koyanagi.
“These outcomes underscore the potential of this opsin as a valuable tool in optogenetics, possessing the capability to detect light penetration even at considerable depths within biological organisms.”
The comprehensive investigation was formally published in January 2026 within the esteemed scientific journal, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.
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R. Sato et al. 2026. Dragonfly red opsins share a common tuning mechanism with mammalian red opsins and further enhancement of near-infrared sensitivity. Cell. Mol. Life Sci 83, 66; doi: 10.1007/s00018-025-06017-9
