To provide prevention and suppression of progression of
retinal diseases, improvement in visual cognitive behavioral function, and strengthening of
visual function.SOLUTION: A chimeric
protein of two types of rhodopsins, an
ion-transporting
rhodopsin and a
G protein-coupled
receptor rhodopsin, and a
nucleic acid encoding the chimeric
protein are provided for the prevention and suppression of progression of
retinal diseases, improvement in visual cognitive behavioral functions (e.g., improvement in light-dark determination functions, improvement in
bright spot evading functions, and / or crisis avoidance functions), and enhancement of visual functions (e.g., improvement in
visual acuity). The present invention also provides a method for preventing or suppressing progression of a
disease, disorder or symptom of the
retina, for improving a visual cognitive behavioral function (e.g., improvement in light-dark determination functions, improvement in
bright spot evading functions, and / or crisis avoidance functions), or for enhancing visual functions (e.g., improvement in
visual acuity), in a subject. The method comprises the step of administering an effective amount of a
nucleic acid encoding a chimeric
protein of an
ion-transporting
receptor rhodopsin and a
G protein-coupled
receptor rhodopsin to the subject.SELECTED DRAWING: None