Photoosmosis through liquid membrane bilayers: Studies on chloroplast extract, haemoglobin, protoporphyrin, and cyanocobalamin

Interface-mediated oscillatory phenomena

Oscillatory transport processes which occur in the far from equilibrium region have assumed great significance from the viewpoint of science of complexity. Oscillatory phenomena in the chemical reaction systems have been subjected to intense investigations both from theoretical and experimental angles. In the present review an effort has been made to bring transport processes other than conventional chemical reactions into focus: transport processes mediated by solid-liquid and liquid-liquid interfaces have been discussed. Transport through membranes including liquid membranes, liquid-liquid interfaces and the recently reported hydrodynamic oscillator have been covered. Applications of these systems in areas such as fabrication of sensors, phase transfer catalysis and, of course, the obvious biological action, e.g. excitation of biomembranes and tissues, have been reviewed. Theoretical frameworks proposed to rationalize the phenomena have also been critically reviewed.

Photo-osmosis through liquid membrane bilayers. Studies on mixture of bacteriorhodopsin with cytochrome-C, myoglobin, or hemoglobin

The effect of cytochrome-C, hemoglobin, and myoglobin on photo-osmosis through liquid membrane bilayers generated by bacteriorhodopsin (BR) has been studied. The magnitude of photo-osmotic velocity was found to be much greater when BR was combined with any one of the three pigments than that of BR alone. This has been because of the exclusion of protons and electrons in the illuminated compartment by the action of light, where one acts as the acceptor for the others. The rate of light-induced volume flux of the combined system depends on temperature, intensity, and wavelength of incident light, and the nature and concentration of electron donors and acceptors.