THE ‘OPSIN SHIFT’ IN BACTERIORHODOPSIN: STUDIES WITH ARTIFICIAL BACTERIORHODOPSINS

Abstract— The difference (in cm−1) in absorption maxima between the protonated Schiff base of retinals and the pigment derived therefrom has been defined as the opsin shift. It represents the influence of the opsin binding site on the chromophore. The analysis of the opsin shifts of a series of dihydrobacteriorhodopsins has led to the external point‐charge model, which in addition to a counter anion near the Schiff base ammonium, carries another negative charge in the vicinity of the β‐ionone ring. This is in striking contrast to the external point‐charge model proposed earlier for the bovine visual pigment. The absorption maxima of rhodopsins formed from bromo‐ and phenyl retinals support the two models. A retinal carrying a photoaffinity label has yielded a nonbleachable bacteriorhodopsin.

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