Heliorhodopsins are absent in diderm (Gram-negative) bacteria: Some thoughts and possible implications for activity

Survival and rapid resuscitation permit limited productivity in desert microbial communities

Microbial activity in drylands tends to be confined to rare and short periods of rain. Rapid growth should be key to the maintenance of ecosystem processes in such narrow activity windows, if desiccation and rehydration cause widespread cell death due to osmotic stress. Here, simulating rain with 2H2O followed by single-cell NanoSIMS, we show that biocrust microbial communities in the Negev Desert are characterized by limited productivity, with median replication times of 6 to 19 days and restricted number of days allowing growth. Genome-resolved metatranscriptomics reveals that nearly all microbial populations resuscitate within minutes after simulated rain, independent of taxonomy, and invest their activity into repair and energy generation. Together, our data reveal a community that makes optimal use of short activity phases by fast and universal resuscitation enabling the maintenance of key ecosystem functions. We conclude that desert biocrust communities are highly adapted to surviving rapid changes in soil moisture and solute concentrations, resulting in high persistence that balances limited productivity.

Picosecond quantum-classical dynamics reveals that the coexistence of light-induced microbial and animal chromophore rotary motion modulates the isomerization quantum yield of heliorhodopsin

Rhodopsins are light-responsive proteins forming two vast and evolutionary distinct superfamilies whose functions are invariably triggered by the photoisomerization of a single retinal chromophore. In 2018 a third widespread superfamily of rhodopsins called heliorhodopsins was discovered using functional metagenomics. Heliorhodopsins, with their markedly different structural features with respect to the animal and microbial superfamilies, offer an opportunity to study how evolution has manipulated the chromophore photoisomerization to achieve adaptation. One question is related to the mechanism of such a reaction and how it differs from that of animal and microbial rhodopsins. To address this question, we use hundreds of quantum-classical trajectories to simulate the spectroscopically documented picosecond light-induced dynamics of a heliorhodopsin from the archaea thermoplasmatales archaeon (TaHeR). We show that, consistently with the observations, the trajectories reveal two excited state decay channels. However, inconsistently with previous hypotheses, only one channel is associated with the -C13C14- rotation of microbial rhodopsins while the second channel is characterized by the -C11C12- rotation typical of animal rhodopsins. The fact that such -C11C12- rotation is aborted upon decay and ground state relaxation, explains why illumination of TaHeR only produces the 13-cis isomer with a low quantum efficiency. We argue that the documented lack of regioselectivity in double-bond excited state twisting motion is the result of an "adaptation" that could be completely lost via specific residue substitutions modulating the steric hindrance experienced along the isomerization motion.

Internal Proton Transfer in the Activation of Heliorhodopsin

Heliorhodopsin (HeR), a recently discovered new rhodopsin family, contains a single counterion of the protonated Schiff base, E108 in HeR from Thermoplasmatales archaeon SG8-52-1 (TaHeR). Upon light absorption, the M and O intermediates form in HeRs, as well as type-1 microbial rhodopsins, indicating that the proton transfer from the Schiff base leads to the activation of HeRs. The present flash photolysis study of TaHeR in the presence of a pH-sensitive dye showed that TaHeR contains a proton-accepting group (PAG) inside protein. Comprehensive mutation study of TaHeR found the E108D mutant abolishing the M formation, which is not only at pH 8, but also at pH 9 and 10. The lack of M observation does not originate from the short lifetime of the M intermediate in E108D, as FTIR spectroscopy revealed that a red-shifted K-like intermediate is long lived in E108D. It is likely that the K-like intermediate returns to the unphotolyzed state without internal proton transfer in E108D. E108 and D108 are the Schiff base counterions of the wild-type and E108D mutant TaHeR, respectively, whereas small difference in length of side chains determine internal proton transfer reaction from the Schiff base. Based on the present finding, we propose that the internal water cluster (four water molecules) constitutes PAG in the M intermediate of TaHeR. In the wild type TaHeR, a protonated water cluster is stabilized by forming a salt bridge with E108. In contrast, slightly shortened counterion (D108) cannot stabilize the protonated water cluster in E108D, and thus impairs internal proton transfer from the Schiff base.

pH-Dependent Binding and Releasing Mechanism of Acetate in the Inner Water Cavity of Heliorhodopsin

The high-resolution structure of heliorhodopsin crystallized at low pH reveals the presence of a planar triangle molecule, acetate, in the inner water cavity. Here, we investigate how the acetate molecule is stabilized at the counterion Glu107 moiety, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and a quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) approach. QM/MM calculations indicate that the density is best described as acetate among triangle acids, including nitric acid and bicarbonate. The calculated protonation state indicates that protonated acetate donates an H-bond to deprotonated Glu107 in the low-pH crystal structure. The observed red-shift of ∼30 nm in the absorption wavelength with pKa ≈ 4 is likely due to the His23/His80 protonation, rather than the Glu107 protonation. MD simulations also show that acetate can exist at the Glu107 moiety only when it is protonated. When ionized, acetate is released from the Glu107 moiety via Asn101 at the channel bottleneck and Arg91 on the intracellular protein surface. These observations could explain how acetate binds at low pH and releases at high pH.

Time-resolved detection of light-induced conformational changes of heliorhodopsin

Heliorhodopsins (HeRs) are a new category of rhodopsins. They exist as a dimer and exhibit a characteristic inverted topology. HeRs bind all-trans-retinal as a chromophore in the dark, and its isomerization to the 13-cis form by light illumination leads to a photocyclic reaction involving several photo-intermediates: K, L, M, and O. In this study, the kinetics of conformational changes of HeR from Thermoplasmatales archaeon SG8-52-1 (TaHeR) were studied by the transient grating (TG) and circular dichroism (CD) methods. The TG method reveals that the diffusion coefficient (D) does not change until the O formation suggesting no significant conformation change at the surface of the protein during the early steps of the reaction. Subsequently, D decreases upon the O formation. Although two time constants (202 μs and 2.6 ms) are observed for the conversion from the M to O by the absorption detection, D decreases only at the first step (202 μs). Light-induced unfolding of helical structure is detected by the CD method. To examine the contribution of a characteristic helix in the intracellular loop 1 (ICL1 helix), Tyr93 on the ICL1 helix was replaced by Gly (Y93G), and the reaction of this mutant was also investigated. It was found that this replacement partially suppresses the D-change, although the CD-change is almost the same as that of the wild type. These results are interpreted in terms of different sensitivities of TG and CD methods, that is, D is sensitive to the structure of the solvent-exposed surface and selectively observes the conformational change in the ICL1 region. It is suggested that the structure of hydrophilic residues in the ICL1 helix is changed during this process.

Expanding the family of genetically encoded voltage indicators with a candidate Heliorhodopsin exhibiting near-infrared fluorescence

Genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs), particularly those based on microbial rhodopsins, are gaining traction in neuroscience as fluorescent sensors for imaging voltage dynamics with high-spatiotemporal precision. Here we establish a novel GEVI candidate based on the recently discovered subfamily of the microbial rhodopsin clade, termed heliorhodopsins. We discovered that upon excitation at 530-560nm, wild type heliorhodopsin exhibits near infra-red fluorescence which is sensitive to membrane voltage. We characterized the fluorescence brightness, photostability, voltage sensitivity and kinetics of wild type heliorhodopsin in HEK293T cells and further examined the impact of mutating key residues near the retinal chromophore. The S237A mutation significantly improved the fluorescence response of heliorhodopsin by 76% providing a highly promising starting point for further protein evolution.

Characterization of retinal chromophore and protonated Schiff base in Thermoplasmatales archaeon heliorhodopsin using solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Heliorhodopsin (HeR) is a seven-helical transmembrane protein with a retinal chromophore that corresponds to a new rhodopsin family. HeR from the archaebacterium Thermoplasmatales archaeon (TaHeR) exhibits unique features, such as the inverted protein orientation in the membrane compared to other rhodopsins and a long photocycle. Here, we used solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to investigate the ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR signals of the retinal chromophore and protonated Schiff base (RPSB) in TaHeR embedded in POPE/POPG membrane. Although the 14- and 20-¹³C retinal signals indicated 13-trans/15-anti (all-trans) configurations, the 20-¹³C chemical shift value was different from that of other microbial rhodopsins, indicating weakly steric hinderance between Phe203 and the C20 methyl group. ¹⁵N RPSB/λ_max plot deviated from the linear correlation based on retinylidene-halide model compounds. Furthermore, ¹⁵N chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) suggested that Ser112 and Ser234 polar residues distinguish the electronic environment tendencies of RPSB from those of other microbial rhodopsins. Our NMR results revealed that the retinal chromophore and the RPSB in TaHeR exhibit unique electronic environments.

Adaptive genetic traits in pelagic freshwater microbes

Pelagic microbes have adopted distinct strategies to inhabit the pelagial of lakes and oceans and can be broadly categorized in two groups: free-living, specialized oligotrophs and patch-associated generalists or copiotrophs. In this review, we aim to identify genomic traits that enable pelagic freshwater microbes to thrive in their habitat. To do so, we discuss the main genetic differences of pelagic marine and freshwater microbes that are both dominated by specialized oligotrophs and the difference to freshwater sediment microbes, where copiotrophs are more prevalent. We phylogenomically analysed a collection of >7700 metagenome-assembled genomes, classified habitat preferences on different taxonomic levels, and compared the metabolic traits of pelagic freshwater, marine, and freshwater sediment microbes. Metabolic differences are mainly associated with transport functions, environmental information processing, components of the electron transport chain, osmoregulation and the isoelectric point of proteins. Several lineages with known habitat transitions (Nitrososphaeria, SAR11, Methylophilaceae, Synechococcales, Flavobacteriaceae, Planctomycetota) and the underlying mechanisms in this process are discussed in this review. Additionally, the distribution, ecology and genomic make-up of the most abundant freshwater prokaryotes are described in details in separate chapters for Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Burkholderiales, Verrucomicrobiota, Chloroflexota, and 'Ca. Patescibacteria'.

Diversity, distribution, and expression of opsin genes in freshwater lakes

Microbial rhodopsins are widely distributed in aquatic environments and may significantly contribute to phototrophy and energy budgets in global oceans. However, the study of freshwater rhodopsins has been largely limited. Here, we explored the diversity, ecological distribution, and expression of opsin genes that encode the apoproteins of type I rhodopsins in humic and clearwater lakes with contrasting physicochemical and optical characteristics. Using metagenomes and metagenome-assembled genomes, we recovered opsin genes from a wide range of taxa, mostly predicted to encode green light-absorbing proton pumps. Viral opsin and novel bacterial opsin clades were recovered. Opsin genes occurred more frequently in taxa from clearwater than from humic water, and opsins in some taxa have nontypical ion-pumping motifs that might be associated with physicochemical conditions of these two freshwater types. Analyses of the surface layer of 33 freshwater systems revealed an inverse correlation between opsin gene abundance and lake dissolved organic carbon (DOC). In humic water with high terrestrial DOC and light-absorbing humic substances, opsin gene abundance was low and dramatically declined within the first few meters, whereas the abundance remained relatively high along the bulk water column in clearwater lakes with low DOC, suggesting opsin gene distribution is influenced by lake optical properties and DOC. Gene expression analysis confirmed the significance of rhodopsin-based phototrophy in clearwater lakes and revealed different diel expressional patterns among major phyla. Overall, our analyses revealed freshwater opsin diversity, distribution and expression patterns, and suggested the significance of rhodopsin-based phototrophy in freshwater energy budgets, especially in clearwater lakes.

Proton transfer and conformational changes along the hydrogen bond network in heliorhodopsin

Heliorhodopsin releases a proton from the Schiff base during the L-state to M-state transition but not toward the protein bulk surface. Here we investigate proton transfer and induced structural changes along the H-bond network in heliorhodopsin using a quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical approach and molecular dynamics simulations. Light-induced proton transfer could occur from the Schiff base toward Glu107, reorienting Ser76, followed by subsequent proton transfer toward His80. His80 protonation induces the reorientation of Trp246 on the extracellular surface, originating from the electrostatic interaction that propagates along the transmembrane H-bond network [His80…His23…H₂O_[H23/Q26]…Gln26…Trp246] over a distance of 15 Å. Furthermore, it induces structural fluctuation on the intracellular side in the H-bond network [His80…Asn16…Tyr92…Glu230…Arg104…Glu149], opening the inner cavity at the Tyr92 moiety. These may be a basis of how light-induced proton transfer causes conformational changes during the M-state to O-state transition.

Planktonic microbial communities from microbialite-bearing lakes sampled along a salinity-alkalinity gradient

Continental freshwater systems are particularly vulnerable to environmental variation. Climate change-induced desertification and the anthropogenic exploitation of hydric resources result in the progressive evaporation and salinization of inland water bodies in many areas of the globe. However, how this process impacts microbial communities and their activities in biogeochemical cycles is poorly known. Here, we take a space-for-time substitution approach and characterize the prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities of two planktonic cell-size fractions (0.2-5 μm and 5-30 μm) from lakes of diverse trophic levels sampled along a salinity-alkalinity gradient located in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). We applied a 16S/18S rRNA gene metabarcoding strategy to determine the microbial community composition of 54 samples from 12 different lakes, from the low-salinity lake Zirahuén to the hypersaline residual ponds of Rincón de Parangueo. Except for systems at both extremes of the salinity gradient, most lakes along the evaporation trend bear actively forming microbialites, which harbor microbial communities clearly distinct from those of plankton. Several lakes were sampled in winter and late spring and the crater lakes Alchichica and Atexcac were sampled across the water column. Physicochemical parameters related to salinity-alkalinity were the most influential drivers of microbial community structure whereas trophic status, depth, or season were less important. Our results suggest that climate change and anthropogenic-induced hydric deficit could significantly affect microbial communities, potentially altering ecosystem functioning.

Low pH structure of heliorhodopsin reveals chloride binding site and intramolecular signaling pathway

Within the microbial rhodopsin family, heliorhodopsins (HeRs) form a phylogenetically distinct group of light-harvesting retinal proteins with largely unknown functions. We have determined the 1.97 Å resolution X-ray crystal structure of Thermoplasmatales archaeon SG8-52-1 heliorhodopsin (TaHeR) in the presence of NaCl under acidic conditions (pH 4.5), which complements the known 2.4 Å TaHeR structure acquired at pH 8.0. The low pH structure revealed that the hydrophilic Schiff base cavity (SBC) accommodates a chloride anion to stabilize the protonated retinal Schiff base when its primary counterion (Glu-108) is neutralized. Comparison of the two structures at different pH revealed conformational changes connecting the SBC and the extracellular loop linking helices A–B. We corroborated this intramolecular signaling transduction pathway with computational studies, which revealed allosteric network changes propagating from the perturbed SBC to the intracellular and extracellular space, suggesting TaHeR may function as a sensory rhodopsin. This intramolecular signaling mechanism may be conserved among HeRs, as similar changes were observed for HeR 48C12 between its pH 8.8 and pH 4.3 structures. We additionally performed DEER experiments, which suggests that TaHeR forms possible dimer-of-dimer associations which may be integral to its putative functionality as a light sensor in binding a transducer protein.

Diverse heliorhodopsins detected via functional metagenomics in freshwater Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Archaea

The recently discovered rhodopsin family of heliorhodopsins (HeRs) is abundant in diverse microbial environments. So far, the functional and biological roles of HeRs remain unknown. To tackle this issue, we combined experimental and computational screens to gain some novel insights. Here, 10 readily expressed HeR genes were found using functional metagenomics on samples from two freshwater environments. These HeRs originated from diverse prokaryotic groups: Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Archaea. Heterologously expressed HeRs absorbed light in the green and yellow wavelengths (543-562 nm) and their photocycles exhibited diverse kinetic characteristics. To approach the physiological function of the HeRs, we used our environmental clones along with thousands of microbial genomes to analyze genes neighbouring HeRs. The strongest association was found with the DegV family involved in activation of fatty acids, which allowed us to hypothesize that HeRs might be involved in light-induced membrane lipid modifications.

Heliorhodopsin Evolution Is Driven by Photosensory Promiscuity in Monoderms

Rhodopsins are light-activated proteins displaying an enormous versatility of function as cation/anion pumps or sensing environmental stimuli and are widely distributed across all domains of life. Even with wide sequence divergence and uncertain evolutionary linkages between microbial (type 1) and animal (type 2) rhodopsins, the membrane orientation of the core structural scaffold of both was presumed universal. This was recently amended through the discovery of heliorhodopsins (HeRs; type 3), that, in contrast to known rhodopsins, display an inverted membrane topology and yet retain similarities in sequence, structure, and the light-activated response. While no ion-pumping activity has been demonstrated for HeRs and multiple crystal structures are available, fundamental questions regarding their cellular and ecological function or even their taxonomic distribution remain unresolved. Here, we investigated HeR function and distribution using genomic/metagenomic data with protein domain fusions, contextual genomic information, and gene coexpression analysis with strand-specific metatranscriptomics. We bring to resolution the debated monoderm/diderm occurrence patterns and show that HeRs are restricted to monoderms. Moreover, we provide compelling evidence that HeRs are a novel type of sensory rhodopsins linked to histidine kinases and other two-component system genes across phyla. In addition, we also describe two novel putative signal-transducing domains fused to some HeRs. We posit that HeRs likely function as generalized light-dependent switches involved in the mitigation of light-induced oxidative stress and metabolic circuitry regulation. Their role as sensory rhodopsins is corroborated by their photocycle dynamics and their presence/function in monoderms is likely connected to the higher sensitivity of these organisms to light-induced damage.

IMPORTANCE Heliorhodopsins are enigmatic, novel rhodopsins with a membrane orientation that is opposite to all known rhodopsins. However, their cellular and ecological functions are unknown, and even their taxonomic distribution remains a subject of debate. We provide evidence that HeRs are a novel type of sensory rhodopsins linked to histidine kinases and other two-component system genes across phyla boundaries. In support of this, we also identify two novel putative signal transducing domains in HeRs that are fused with them. We also observe linkages of HeRs to genes involved in mitigation of light-induced oxidative stress and increased carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Finally, we synthesize these findings into a framework that connects HeRs with the cellular response to light in monoderms, activating light-induced oxidative stress defenses along with carbon/nitrogen metabolic circuitries. These findings are consistent with the evolutionary, taxonomic, structural, and genomic data available so far.

Rhodopsins at a glance

Rhodopsins are photoreceptive membrane proteins consisting of a common heptahelical transmembrane architecture that contains a retinal chromophore. Rhodopsin was first discovered in the animal retina in 1876, but a different type of rhodopsin, bacteriorhodopsin, was reported to be present in the cell membrane of an extreme halophilic archaeon, Halobacterium salinarum, 95 years later. Although these findings were made by physiological observation of pigmented tissue and cell bodies, recent progress in genomic and metagenomic analyses has revealed that there are more than 10,000 microbial rhodopsins and 9000 animal rhodopsins with large diversity and tremendous new functionality. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster, we provide an overview of the diversity of functions, structures, color discrimination mechanisms and optogenetic applications of these two rhodopsin families, and will also highlight the third distinctive rhodopsin family, heliorhodopsin.

Microbial Rhodopsins: The Last Two Decades

Microbial rhodopsins are diverse photoreceptive proteins containing a retinal chromophore and are found in all domains of cellular life and are even encoded in genomes of viruses. These rhodopsins make up two families: type 1 rhodopsins and the recently discovered heliorhodopsins. These families have seven transmembrane helices with similar structures but opposing membrane orientation. Microbial rhodopsins participate in a portfolio of light-driven energy and sensory transduction processes. In this review we present data collected over the last two decades about these rhodopsins and describe their diversity, functions, and biological and ecological roles. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 75 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Resonance Raman Determination of Chromophore Structures of Heliorhodopsin Photointermediates

Light is utilized as energy or information by rhodopsins (membrane proteins that contain a retinal chromophore). Heliorhodopsins (HeRs) are a new class of rhodopsins with low sequence identity (<15%) to microbial and animal rhodopsins. Their physiological roles remain unknown, although the involvement of a long-lived intermediate in the photocycle suggests a light-sensor function. Characterization of the molecular structures of the intermediates is essential to an understanding of the roles and mechanisms of HeRs. We determined the chromophore structures of the intermediates in HeR 48C12 by time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy and observed that the hydrogen bond of the protonated Schiff base strengthened prior to deprotonation. The chromophore is photoisomerized from the all-trans to the 13-cis form and is reisomerized in the transition from the O intermediate to the unphotolyzed state. Our results demonstrate that the chromophore structure evolves similarly to microbial rhodopsins, despite the dissimilarity in amino acid residues surrounding the chromophore.

Zinc Binding to Heliorhodopsin

Heliorhodopsin (HeR), a recently discovered new rhodopsin family, has an inverted membrane topology compared to animal and microbial rhodopsins, and no ion-transport activity. The slow photocycle of HeRs suggests a light-sensor function, although the function remains unknown. HeRs exhibit no specific binding of monovalent cations or anions. Despite this, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in the present study demonstrates binding of Zn²⁺ to HeR from Thermoplasmatales archaeon (TaHeR). The biding of Zn²⁺ to 0.2 mM K_d is accompanied by helical structural perturbations without altering its color. Even though ion-specific FTIR spectra were observed for many divalent cations, only helical structural perturbations were observed for Zn²⁺-binding. Similar results were obtained for HeR 48C12. These findings suggest a possible modification of HeR function by Zn²⁺.

High-resolution structural insights into the heliorhodopsin family

Rhodopsins are the most abundant light-harvesting proteins. A new family of rhodopsins, heliorhodopsins (HeRs), has recently been discovered. Unlike in the known rhodopsins, in HeRs the N termini face the cytoplasm. The function of HeRs remains unknown. We present the structures of the bacterial HeR-48C12 in two states at the resolution of 1.5 Å, which highlight its remarkable difference from all known rhodopsins. The interior of HeR's extracellular part is completely hydrophobic, while the cytoplasmic part comprises a cavity (Schiff base cavity [SBC]) surrounded by charged amino acids and containing a cluster of water molecules, presumably being a primary proton acceptor from the Schiff base. At acidic pH, a planar triangular molecule (acetate) is present in the SBC. Structure-based bioinformatic analysis identified 10 subfamilies of HeRs, suggesting their diverse biological functions. The structures and available data suggest an enzymatic activity of HeR-48C12 subfamily and their possible involvement in fundamental redox biological processes.

Microbial rhodopsins are major contributors to the solar energy captured in the sea

All known phototrophic metabolisms on Earth rely on one of three categories of energy-converting pigments: chlorophyll-a (rarely -d), bacteriochlorophyll-a (rarely -b), and retinal, which is the chromophore in rhodopsins. While the significance of chlorophylls in solar energy capture has been studied for decades, the contribution of retinal-based phototrophy to this process remains largely unexplored. We report the first vertical distributions of the three energy-converting pigments measured along a contrasting nutrient gradient through the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The highest rhodopsin concentrations were observed above the deep chlorophyll-a maxima, and their geographical distribution tended to be inversely related to that of chlorophyll-a. We further show that proton-pumping proteorhodopsins potentially absorb as much light energy as chlorophyll-a-based phototrophy and that this energy is sufficient to sustain bacterial basal metabolism. This suggests that proteorhodopsins are a major energy-transducing mechanism to harvest solar energy in the surface ocean.

a-ARM: Automatic Rhodopsin Modeling with Chromophore Cavity Generation, Ionization State Selection, and External Counterion Placement

The Automatic Rhodopsin Modeling (ARM) protocol has recently been proposed as a tool for the fast and parallel generation of basic hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) models of wild type and mutant rhodopsins. However, in its present version, input preparation requires a few hours long user's manipulation of the template protein structure, which also impairs the reproducibility of the generated models. This limitation, which makes model building semiautomatic rather than fully automatic, comprises four tasks: definition of the retinal chromophore cavity, assignment of protonation states of the ionizable residues, neutralization of the protein with external counterions, and finally congruous generation of single or multiple mutations. In this work, we show that the automation of the original ARM protocol can be extended to a level suitable for performing the above tasks without user's manipulation and with an input preparation time of minutes. The new protocol, called a-ARM, delivers fully reproducible (i.e., user independent) rhodopsin QM/MM models as well as an improved model quality. More specifically, we show that the trend in vertical excitation energies observed for a set of 25 wild type and 14 mutant rhodopsins is predicted by the new protocol better than when using the original. Such an agreement is reflected by an estimated (relative to the probed set) trend deviation of 0.7 ± 0.5 kcal mol-1 (0.03 ± 0.02 eV) and mean absolute error of 1.0 kcal mol-1 (0.04 eV).