Molecular motions in bacteriorhodopsin

Principal Investigator: Pál Ormos

Proteins move during function. Protein conformational changes are regarded as crucial in the function of bacteriorhodopsin. The motions of the chromophore (trans-cis isomerization) following light absorption trigger the whole pumping process. Later, conformational changes in the protein modify the environment of different groups resulting in proton transfer steps between certain side groups. Protein conformational changes also modify the accessibility of groups necessary for vectorial pumping. Information about these motions is fundamental for the understanding of the function. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction are powerful methods for such studies.