Ftir Spectroscopy: The Detection Of Individual Chemical Groups In Complex Biomolecules

Recent advances in FTIR spectroscopy provide the basis for investigating the role of individual chemical groups in the functional mechanisms of large biomolecules. Vibrations from these groups can be identified in FTIR difference spectra and, in some cases, in the total absorption spectra of biomolecules. Examples are given for two membrane proteins, rhodopsin and bacteriorhodopsin.