Determination of the absolute orientation of the retinylidene chromophore in purple membrane by a second-harmonic interference technique

Jung Y. Huang*, Aaron Lewis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

The absolute direction of the retinal chromophore of bacterio-rhodopsin relative to the membrane plane is investigated by using an optical second-harmonic interference technique. Compared with the known adsorbed geometry of free retinylidene Schiff base on a glass substrate, our data indicate the β-ionone ring of the chromophore of bacteriorhodopsin points away from the cytoplasmic surface of the purple membrane. The implication of this finding is discussed in light of other chemical and structural results on bacteriorhodopsin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)835-842
Number of pages8
JournalBiophysical Journal
Volume55
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989

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