11-cis retinal is a derivative of which vitamin?

11-cis retinal is indeed a derivative of Vitamin A. This specific form of retinal is crucial in the visual cycle, as it is the chromophore responsible for capturing light in the photoreceptors of the retina. When light photons hit 11-cis retinal, it isomerizes to all-trans retinal, initiating a biochemical cascade that ultimately results in visual signal transduction.

Vitamin A itself plays a vital role in maintaining healthy vision, and its deficiency can lead to night blindness and other visual disturbances. Retinal is synthesized in the body from beta-carotene, which is a precursor of Vitamin A commonly found in fruits and vegetables. Understanding the relationship between Vitamin A and 11-cis retinal is essential in the fields of ocular physiology and vision science, as it underlines how micronutrients influence visual processes at the molecular level.