Acyl CoA:retinol acyltransferase (ARAT) activity is present in bovine retinal pigment epithelium.

Visual perception is mediated by a family of G protein-coupled receptors called the opsins. The light-absorbing chromophore in most opsins is 11-cis-retinaldehyde, which is isomerized to all-trans-retinaldehyde upon absorption of a photon. Restoration of light sensitivity to the photobleached opsin requires chemical re-isomerization of the chromophore.