The Ability of Actinic Light to Modify the Bacteriorhodopsin Photocycle Revisited: Heterogeneity vs. Photocooperativity

Published

May 13, 2008

Author(s)

R W. Hendler, R I. Shrager, Curtis W. Meuse

Abstract

In 1995, we reviewed the evidence both for photocooperativity and heterogeneity as possible explanations for the ability of actinic light to modify the kinetics and pathways of the bacteriorhodopsin (BR) photocycle (Shrager, R. I.; Hendler, R. W.; Bose, S. Eur. J. Biochem. 1995, 229, 589-595). At that time, we concluded that because both concepts could be successfully modeled to experimental data and because there was suggestive evidence that both principles may be operative in published results, that both photocooperativity and heterogeneity may be involved in the adaptation of the BR photocycle to different levels of actinic light. Since that time, much more information has become available and it seemed appropriate to revisit the original question. It is concluded that the explanation based on heterogeneity is more likely to be the true basis for the variation of the properties of the photocycle caused by changes in actinic light intensity.

Citation

Biochemistry

Volume

47

Issue

19

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

bacteriorhodopsin, biopharmaceutical, biosystems and health, photocycle, proton pumping, time resolved spectroscopy

Citation

Hendler, R. , Shrager, R. and Meuse, C. (2008), The Ability of Actinic Light to Modify the Bacteriorhodopsin Photocycle Revisited: Heterogeneity vs. Photocooperativity, Biochemistry (Accessed May 8, 2026)

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