Low-temperature retinal photoisomerization dynamics in bacteriorhodopsin

TitleLow-temperature retinal photoisomerization dynamics in bacteriorhodopsin
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1998
AuthorsLogunov, SL, Masciangioli, TM, Kamalov, VF, EL-Sayed, MA
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry B
Volume102
Pagination2303-2306
Date PublishedMar
ISBN Number1089-5647
Accession NumberWOS:000072904200001
Abstract

Retinal photoisomerization dynamics are studied at both room temperature and 20 K in wild-type bacteriorhodopsin using femtosecond pulses. We were able to resolve the decay at 20 K into two components with the dominant component having a similar lifetime to that observed at room temperature. This strongly suggests that the retinal lifetime at physiological temperature is barrierless. The minor, low-temperature long-lived component is discussed in terms of previous results obtained for fluorescence and transient absorption with lower time resolution, and the origin of this component is discussed in terms of low-temperature glass heterogeneity.

DOI10.1021/jp972921a