Ring oxidized retinals form unusual bacteriorhodopsin analogue pigments

Photochemical and thermal stability of green and blue proteorhodopsins: implications for protein-based bioelectronic devices

The photochemical and thermal stability of the detergent-solubilized blue- and green-absorbing proteorhodpsins, BPR and GPR, respectively, are investigated to determine the viability of these proteins for photonic device applications. Photochemical stability is studied by using pulsed laser excitation and differential UV-vis spectroscopy to assign the photocyclicity. GPR, with a cyclicity of 7 × 10(4) photocycles protein(-1), is 4-5 times more stable than BPR (9 × 10(3) photocycles protein(-1)), but is less stable than native bacteriorhodopsin (9 × 10(5) photocycles protein(-1)) or the 4-keto-bacteriorhodopsin analogue (1 × 10(5) photocycles protein(-1)). The thermal stabilities are assigned by using differential scanning calorimetry and thermal bleaching experiments. Both proteorhodopsins display excellent thermal stability, with melting temperatures above 85 °C, and remain photochemically stable up to 75 °C. The biological relevance of our results is also discussed. The lower cyclicity of BPR is found to be adequate for the long-term biological function of the host organism at ocean depths of 50 m or more.

Bacteriorhodopsin variants as versatile media in optical processing

The photochromic properties of bacteriorhodopsin (BR), in addition to its longevity and excellent reversibility, are attractive features for the construction of light-sensitive media for optical information processing. However, the various optical techniques require media with specifically adapted and widely differing properties. Genetic engineering of BR and biotechnological production of mutated BRs is the key for the utilization of this photochromic compound in optical applications. Mutated BRs, generated by single and double amino acid exchanges, have been used as recording media for optical applications such as phase conjugation or long-term data storage at room temperature.

Characterization and Photochemistry of 13-Desmethyl Bacteriorhodopsin

The photochemistry of the 13-desmethyl (DM) analogue of bacteriorhodopsin (BR) is examined by using spectroscopy, molecular orbital theory, and chromophore extraction followed by conformational analysis. The removal of the 13-methyl group permits the direct photochemical formation of a thermally stable, photochemically reversible state, P1(DM) (lambda(max) = 525 nm), which can be generated efficiently by exciting the resting state, bR(DM) with yellow or red light (lambda > 590 nm). Chromophore extraction analysis reveals that the retinal configuration in P1(DM) is 9-cis, identical to that of the retinal configuration in the native BR P1 state. Fourier transform infrared and Raman experiments on P1(DM) indicate an anti configuration around the C15=N bond, as would be expected of an O-state photoproduct. However, low-temperature spectroscopy and ambient, time-resolved studies indicate that the P1(DM) state forms primarily via thermal relaxation from the L(D)(DM) state. Theoretical studies on the BR binding site show that 13-dm retinal is capable of isomerizing into a 9-cis configuration with minimal steric hindrance from surrounding residues, in contrast to the native chromophore in which surrounding residues significantly obstruct the corresponding motion. Analysis of the photokinetic experiments indicates that the Arrhenius activation energy of the bR(DM) --> P1(DM) transition in 13-dm-BR is less than 0.6 kcal/mol (vs 22 +/-5 kcal/mol measured for the bR --> P (P1 and P2) reaction in 85:15 glycerol:water suspensions of wild type). Consequently, the P1(DM) state in 13-dm-BR can form directly from all-trans, 15-anti intermediates (bR(DM) and O(DM)) or all-trans, 15-syn (K(D)(DM)/L(D)(DM)) intermediates. This study demonstrates that the 13-methyl group, and its interactions with nearby binding site residues, is primarily responsible for channeling one-photon photochemical and thermal reactions and is limited to the all-trans and 13-cis species interconversions in the native protein.

Synthesis of ring-oxidized retinoids as substrates of mouse class I alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1)

Ring-oxidized retinoids have been synthesized stereoselectively using the Stille cross-coupling reaction. Kinetic constants of mouse class I alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1) with these retinoids were determined.

Color sensitive retina based on bacteriorhodopsin

Bacteriorhodopsin (BR), a membrane protein of a microorganism Halobacterium salinarium has been studied since the 80's as a potential material for information technology. The information processing applications of BR employ either photochromic or photoelectric properties of the protein. In this study we discuss about design principles and describe our study of the use of bacteriorhodopsin as a sensor material for a color sensitive artificial retina. This retina includes low-level processing of input information. The design of a color sensitive matrix element, the self-organizing color adaptation algorithm and a system model for the retina are presented.

Azidotetrafluorophenyl retinal analogue: synthesis and bacteriorhodopsin pigment formation

The retinal derivative, all-trans-9-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)-3,7- dimethyl-2,4,6,8-nonatetraenal, was synthesized by two routes as a potential photoactivatable cross-linking agent for studies in bacteriorhodopsin (BR) of the chromophore interaction with its apoprotein. The retinal analogue formed a stable, moderately functional BR pigment confirming that the ring cavity of the retinal binding site has a significant tolerance for derivatization on that portion of the molecule. Attempts to cross-link the azido chromophore to the protein by photoactivation were unsuccessful. The electron delocalization effect of the conjugated polyene side chain of the retinal appears to interfere with the formation or reactivity of the nitrene intermediate to the extent that photoactivated cross-linking is not achieved. These results demonstrate a limitation to the use of fluorinated aryl azides as photoaffinity reagents.