Alpha-retinals as rhodopsin chromophores--preference for the 9-Z configuration and partial agonist activity

The visual pigment rhodopsin, the photosensory element of the rod photoreceptor cell in the vertebrate retina, shows in combination with an endogenous ligand, 11-Z retinal, an astonishing photochemical performance. It exhibits an unprecedented quantum yield (0.67) in a highly defined and ultrafast photoisomerization process. This triggers the conformational changes leading to the active state Meta(rhodopsin) II. Retinal is covalently bound to Lys-296 of the protein opsin in a protonated Schiff base. The resulting positive charge delocalization over the terminal part of the polyene chain of retinal creates a conjugation defect that upon photoexcitation moves to the opposite end of the polyene. Shortening the polyene as in 4,5-dehydro,5,6-dihydro (alpha), 5,6-dihydro or 7,8-dihydro-analogs might facilitate photoisomerization of a 9-Z and a 11-Z bond. Here we describe pigment analogs generated with bovine opsin and 11-Z or 9-Z 4,5-dehydro,5,6-dihydro-retinal that were further characterized by UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy. The preference of opsin for native 11-Z retinal over the 9-Z isomer is reversed in 4,5-dehydro,5,6-dihydro-retinal. 9-Z 4,5-dehydro,5,6-dihydro-retinal readily generated a photosensitive pigment. This modification has no effect on the quantum yield, but affects the Batho<-->blueshifted intermediate (BSI) equilibrium and leads to a strong decrease in the G-protein activation rate because of a downshift of the pK(a) of the Meta I<-->Meta II equilibrium.     

Constraints of opsin structure on the ligand-binding site: studies with ring-fused retinals

Ring-fused retinal analogs were designed to examine the hula-twist mode of the photoisomerization of the 9-cis retinylidene chromophore. Two 9-cis retinal analogs, the C11-C13 five-membered ring-fused and the C12-C14 five-membered ring-fused retinal derivatives, formed the pigments with opsin. The C11-C13 ring-fused analog was isomerized to a relaxed all-trans chromophore (lambda(max) > 400 nm) at even -269 degrees C and the Schiff base was kept protonated at 0 degrees C. The C12-C14 ring-fused analog was converted photochemically to a bathorhodopsin-like chromophore (lambda(max) = 583 nm) at -196 degrees C, which was further converted to the deprotonated Schiff base at 0 degrees C. The model-building study suggested that the analogs do not form pigments in the retinal-binding site of rhodopsin but form pigments with opsin structures, which have larger binding space generated by the movement of transmembrane helices. The molecular dynamics simulation of the isomerization of the analog chromophores provided a twisted C11-C12 double bond for the C12-C14 ring-fused analog and all relaxed double bonds with a highly twisted C10-C11 bond for the C11-C13 ring-fused analog. The structural model of the C11-C13 ring-fused analog chromophore showed a characteristic flip of the cyclohexenyl moiety toward transmembrane segments 3 and 4. The structural models suggested that hula twist is a primary process for the photoisomerization of the analog chromophores.     

Ring oxidized retinals form unusual bacteriorhodopsin analogue pigments.

Three ring oxidized retinal analogues have been isolated from the exhaustive oxidation of all-trans retinal. All-trans 4-oxoretinal and 2,3-dehydro-4-oxoretinal have similar absorption maxima to that of all-trans retinal and have been shown to be in the 6-s-cis conformation in solution. Pigments formed with bacterioopsin exhibit absorption maxima (520 nm) blue-shifted from that of bacteriorhodopsin (bR), indicating a disturbance of the external point charge by the electronegative carbonyl moiety at the 4 position. The third analogue contains a ring contracted to a cyclopentenyl-alpha,beta-dione. Unlike the majority of retinals, this analogue displays a 6-s-trans conformation in solution and has a red-shifted absorption maximum at 435 nm. The resulting bR analogue pigment (515 nm) is formed five times faster than the other oxoretinal pigments. All three oxoretinal pigments show an irreversible 20 nm blue shift upon exposure to white light. The 4-oxo and 2,3-dehydro-4-oxoretinal pigments, after irradiation, undergo a small reversible blue shift (4-8 nm) on dark adaptation. These two pigments pump protons, although with slowed photocycle kinetics, demonstrating that these structural changes (addition of the carbonyl at the C-4 and insertion of a double bond in the ring) do not block the function of the pigment. Extraction of the C-15 tritiated analogue retinals from illuminated and non-illuminated pigments of all three oxoretinals yield identical results. Therefore, any crosslinking of these oxoretinals to the protein is by linkages which are unstable to the extraction procedures.     

Studies on pyrylretinal analogues of bacteriorhodopsin

The retinal analogues 3-methyl-5-(1-pyryl)-2E,4E-pentadienal (1) and 3,7-dimethyl-9-(1-pyryl)-2E,4E,6E,8E-nonatetr aenal (2), which contain the tetra aromatic pyryl system, have been synthesized and characterized in order to examine the effect of the extended ring system on the binding capabilities and the function of bacteriorhodopsin (bR). The two bR mutants, E194Q and E204Q, known to have distinct proton-pumping patterns, were also examined so that the effect of the bulky ring system on the proton-pumping mechanism could be studied. Both retinals formed pigments with all three bacterioopsins, and these pigments were found to have absorption maxima in the range 498-516 nm. All the analogue pigments showed activity as proton pumps. The pigment formed from wild-type apoprotein bR with 1 (with the shortened polyene side chain) showed an M intermediate at 400 nm and exhibited fast proton release followed by proton uptake. Extending the polyene side chain to the length identical with retinal, analogue 2 with wild-type apoprotein gave a pigment that shows M and O intermediates at 435 nm and 650 nm, respectively. This pigment shows both fast and slow proton release at pH 7, suggesting that the pKa of the proton release group (in the M-state) is higher in this pigment compared to native bR. Hydrogen azide ions were found to accelerate the rise and decay of the O intermediate at neutral pH in pyryl 2 pigment. The pigments formed between 2 and E194Q and E204Q showed proton-pumping behavior similar to pigments formed with the native retinal, suggesting that the size of the chromophore ring does not alter the protein conformation at these sites.     

PROPERTIES OF SYNTHETIC BACTERIORHODOPSIN PIGMENTS. FURTHER PROBES OF THE CHROMOPHORE BINDING SITE

Abstract— A series of retinals with specific structural alterations have been synthesized to probe the bacteriorhodopsin binding site. The 4-chloro-, 4-bromo- and 4-iodoretinals all form pigments with bacterioopsin but undergo an in situ displacement of the allylic halogen to form the 4-hydroxyretinal pigment. Several naphthyl retinals were prepared which effectively extend the polyene chain and/or add bulk to the ring portion of the chromophore. All the naphthyl retinals form pigments with bacterioopsin but only the pigment containing the derivative with a polyene side chain identical to that of retinal pumps protons efficiently. The 12-butyl-13-desmethylretinal was also synthesized but this analogue did not form a pigment with bacterioopsin. These results confirm the nonspecificity at the ring portion of the chromophore binding site and the importance of the role of the polyene chain in the proton pumping function of bacteriorhodopsin.     

PHOTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF ARTIFICIAL BACTERIORHODOPSINS

Abstract— Three artificial bacteriorhodopsins are prepared [from synthetic aromatic and bicyclic analogues of retinal and exposed to spectroscopic and pulsed lader photolysis studies. The spectra of the pigments, all perturbed in the ring region of the molecule, are markedly blue shifted in respect to natural bacteriorhodopsin. The shift is attributed to a decreased effect of a protein charge in the vicinity of the ring, in agreement with the point-charge model of Nakanishi et al. , 1980. The photocycles of the synthetic pigments exhibit a primary red-shifted (K) intermediate and a blue shifted (M) transient, analogous to those observed for the natural pigment. Such observations impose considerable limitations, both on the possible chromophore conformational changes and on the effects of neighbouring protein charges associated with the photocycle.
It is concluded that only the Schiff base counter-ion, but not the ring charge, may be associated with the generation of the primary red shifted K species. Moreover, the rigidity imposed on the polyene by the additional ring in the bicyclic analogue shows that the photocycle can not be initiated by conformational changes in the retinyl moiety up to the C₉ carbon in the polyene chain. It is also observed that the K→L process in the photocycle is considerably slower in the case of the synthetic pigments. The observation is rationalized by attributing the process to a conformational change in the polyene moiety catalyzed by the ring protein charge.     

LOW-TEMPERATURE TRAPPING OF EARLY PHOTOINTERMEDIATES OF α-ISORHODOPSIN

Abstract— a-Isorhodopsin, an artificial visual pigment with a 9- cis -4,5-dehydro-5,6-dihydro(a)retinal chromophore, was photolyzed at low temperatures and absorption difference spectra were collected as the sample was warmed. A bathorhodopsin (Batho)-like intermediate absorbing at ca 495 nm was detected below 55 K, a blue-shifted intermediate (BSI)-like intermediate absorbing at ca 453 nm was observed when the temperature was raised to 60 K and a lumirhodopsin (Lumi)-like intermediate absorbing at ca 470 nm was found when the sample was warmed to 115 K. Photointermediates from this pigment were compared to those of native rhodopsin and 5,6-dihydroisorhodopsin. As in native rho-dopsin, Batho is the first intermediate detected in a-isorhodopsin, though unlike native rhodopsin at low temperatures BSI is observed prior to Lumi formation. a-Isorhodopsin behaves similarly to 5,6-dihydroisorhodopsin, with the same early intermediates observed in both artificial visual pigments lacking the C₅-C₆ double bond. The transition temperature for BSI formation is higher in a-isorhodopsin, suggesting an interaction involving the chromophore ring in BSI formation. The transition temperature for Lumi formation is similar for these two pigments as well as for native rhodopsin, suggesting comparable changes in the protein environment in that transition.     

Solution and biologically relevant conformations of enantiomeric 11-cis-locked cyclopropyl retinals

To gain information on the conformation of the 11-cis-retinylidene chromophore bound to bovine opsin, the enantiomeric pair (2a and 2b) of 11-cis-locked bicyclo[5.1.0]octyl retinal (retCPr) 2 was prepared and its conformation was investigated by NMR, geometry optimization, and CD calculations. This compound is also of interest since it contains a unique moiety in which a chiral cyclopropyl group is flanked by triene and enal chromophores, and hence would clarify the little-known chiroptical contribution of a cyclopropyl ring linked to polyene systems. NMR revealed that the seven-membered ring of retCPr adopts a twist chair conformation. The NMR-derived structure constraints were then used for optimizing the geometry of 2 with molecular mechanics and ab initio methods. This revealed that enantiomer 2a with a 11 beta,12 beta-cyclopropyl group exists as two populations of diastereomers depending on the twist around the 6-s bond; however, the sense of twist around the 12-s is positive in both rotamers. The theoretical Boltzmann-weighted CD obtained with the pi-SCF-CI-DV MO method and experimental spectra were consistent, thus suggesting that the conjugative effect of the cyclopropyl moiety is minimal. It was found that only the beta-cyclopropyl enantiomer 2a, but not the alpha-enantiomer 2b, binds to opsin. This observation, together with earlier retinal analogues incorporation results, led to the conclusion that the chromophore sinks into the N-terminal of the opsin receptor from the side of the 4-methylene and 15-aldehyde, and that the binding cleft accommodates 11-cis-retinal with a slightly positive twist around C12/C13. A reinterpretation of the previously published negative CD couplet of 11,12-dihydrorhodopsin also leads to a chromophoric C12/C13 twist conformation with the 13-Me in front as in 1b. Such a conformation for the chromophore accounts for both the observed biostereoselectivity of retCPr 2a and the observed negative couplet of 11,12-dihydro-Rh7.     

Relationship between the excited state relaxation paths of rhodopsin and isorhodopsin

The pigment Isorhodopsin, an analogue of the visual pigment Rhodopsin, is investigated via quantum-mechanics/molecular-mechanics computations based on an ab initio multiconfigurational quantum chemical treatment. The limited <5 kcal mol(-1) error found for the spectral parameters allows for a nearly quantitative analysis of the excited-state structure and reactivity of its 9-cis-retinal chromophore. We demonstrate that, similar to Rhodopsin, Isorhodopsin features a shallow photoisomerization path. However, the structure of the reaction coordinate appears to be reversed. In fact, while the coordinate still corresponds to an asynchronous crankshaft motion, the dominant isomerization component involves a counterclockwise, rather than clockwise, twisting of the 9-cis bond. Similarly, the minor component involves a clockwise, rather than counterclockwise, twisting of the 11-trans bond. Ultimately, these results indicate that Rhodopsin and Isorhodopsin relax along a common excited-state potential energy valley starting from opposite ends. The fact that the central and lowest energy region of such valley runs along a segment of the intersection space between the ground and excited states of the protein explains why the pigments decay at distinctive conical intersection structures.     

HEAVY-ATOM LABELLED RETINAL ANALOGUES LOCATED IN BACTERIORHODOPSIN BY X-RAY DIFFRACTION*

Abstract– The location of the heavy-atom label of three different retinal analogues in the plane of the purple membrane was determined by x-ray diffraction. The three analogues, i.e. 9-bromoretinal and 13-bromoretinal labelled in the polyene chain as well as the ring-labelled HgCI-retinal, were incorporated into bacteriorhodopsin (BR) either biosynthetically using a retinal-deficient mutant strain of Halobacterium halobium or with photochemically bleached bacterioopsin. All BR samples regenerated with retinal analogues were functionally active as proton pumps. The diffraction data show that the cyclohexene ring of retinal is situated in the corner formed by helices 4E and 5D. the 13-methyl group adjacent to helix 6C and therefore the Schiff's base nitrogen about midway between helices 6C and 2G. The 9-bromo label is found slightly off the line connecting the two other labels, directed towards helix 3F, suggesting torsion of the polyene chain or slight incline of the ring. The position and orientation of retinal obtained in our experiments are in agreement with data from neutron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. This indicates that the heavy-atom labeled chromophores, 9-bromo- and 13-bromo- as well as HgCI-retinal, are isomorphously incorporated into BR. These samples will allow kinetic investigation of light-induced structural changes of retinal during BR's pumping cycle using x-ray diffraction as well as extended x-ray absorption fine structure experiments probing changes in the retinal neighbourhood between different intermediaies of the photocycle.     

Reaction path analysis of the "tunable" photoisomerization selectivity of free and locked retinal chromophores

Multiconfigurational second-order perturbation theory computations and reaction path mapping for the retinal protonated Schiff base models all-trans-nona-2,4,6,8-tetraeniminium and 2-cis-nona-2,4,6,8-tetraeniminium cation demonstrate that, in isolated conditions, retinal chromophores exhibit at least three competing excited-state double bond isomerization paths. These paths are associated with the photoisomerization of the double bonds in positions 9, 11, and 13, respectively, and are controlled by barriers that favor the position 11. The computations provide a basis for the understanding of the observed excited-state lifetime in both naturally occurring and synthetic chromophores in solution and, tentatively, in the protein environment. In particular, we provide a rationalization of the excited-state lifetimes observed for a group of locked retinal chromophores which suggests that photoisomerization in bacteriorhodopsin is the result of simultaneous specific "catalysis" (all-trans --> 13-cis path) accompanied by specific "inhibition" (all-trans --> 11-cis path). The nature of the S(1) --> S(0) decay channel associated with the three paths has also been investigated at the CASSCF level of theory. It is shown that the energy surfaces in the vicinity of the conical intersection for the photoisomerization about the central double bond of retinal (position 11) and the two corresponding lateral double bonds (positions 9 and 13) are structurally different.     

(9Z)- and (11Z)-8-methylretinals for artificial visual pigment studies: stereoselective synthesis, structure, and binding models

Artificial visual pigment formation was studied by using 8-methyl-substituted retinals in an effort to understand the effect that alkyl substitution of the chromophore side chain has on the visual cycle. The stereoselective synthesis of the 9-cis and 11-cis isomers of 8-methylretinal, as well as the 5-demethylated analogues is also described. The key bond formations consist of a thallium-accelerated Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between cyclohexenylboronic acids and dienyliodides (C6-C7), and a highly stereocontrolled Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons or Wittig condensation (C11-C12). The cyclohexenylboronic acid was prepared by trapping the precursor cyclohexenyllithium species with B(OiPr)(3) or B(OMe)(3). The cyclohexenyllithium species is itself obtained by nBuLi-induced elimination of a trisylhydrazone (Shapiro reaction), or depending upon the steric hindrance of the ring, by iodine-metal exchange. In binding experiments with the apoprotein opsin, only 9-cis-5-demethyl-8-methylretinal yielded an artificial pigment; 9-cis-8-methylretinal simply provided residual binding, while evidence of artificial pigment formation was not found for the 11-cis analogues. Molecular-mechanics-based docking simulations with the crystal structure of rhodopsin have allowed us to rationalize the lack of binding displayed by the 11-cis analogues. Our results indicate that these isomers are highly strained, especially when bound, due to steric clashes with the receptor, and that these interactions are undoubtedly alleviated when 9-cis-5-demethyl-8-methylretinal binds opsin.     

Coupling of protonation switches during rhodopsin activation

Recent studies of the activation mechanism of rhodopsin involving Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and a combination of chromophore modifications and site-directed mutagenesis reveal an allosteric coupling between two protonation switches. In particular, the ring and the 9-methyl group of the all-trans retinal chromophore serve to couple two proton-dependent activation steps: proton uptake by a cytoplasmic network between transmembrane (TM) helices 3 and 6 around the conserved ERY (Glu-Arg-Tyr) motif and disruption of a salt bridge between the retinal protonated Schiff base (PSB) and a protein counterion in the TM core of the receptor. Retinal analogs lacking the ring or 9-methyl group are only partial agonists--the conformational equilibrium between inactive Meta I and active Meta II photoproduct states is shifted to Meta I. An artificial pigment was engineered, in which the ring of retinal was removed and the PSB salt bridge was weakened by fluorination of C14 of the retinal polyene. These modifications abolished allosteric coupling of the proton switches and resulted in a stabilized Meta I state with a deprotonated Schiff base (Meta I(SB)). This state had a partial Meta II-like conformation due to disruption of the PSB salt bridge, but still lacked the cytoplasmic proton uptake reaction characteristic of the final transition to Meta II. As activation of native rhodopsin is known to involve deprotonation of the retinal Schiff base prior to formation of Meta II, this Meta I(SB) state may serve as a model for the structural characterization of a key transient species in the activation pathway of a prototypical G protein-coupled receptor.     

Steric barrier to bathorhodopsin decay in 5-demethyl and mesityl analogues of rhodopsin

Absorbance difference spectra were recorded from 20 ns to 1 micros after 20 degrees C photoexcitation of artificial visual pigments derived either from 5-demethylretinal or from a mesityl analogue of retinal. Both pigments produced an early photointermediate similar to bovine bathorhodopsin (Batho). In both cases the Batho analogue decayed to a lumirhodopsin (Lumi) analogue via a blue-shifted intermediate, BSI, which formed an equilibrium with the Batho analogue. The stability of 5-demethyl Batho, even though the C8-hydrogen of the polyene chain cannot interact with a ring C5-methyl group to provide a barrier to Batho decay, raises the possibility that the 5-demethylretinal ring binds oppositely from normal to form a pigment with a 6-s-trans ring-chain conformation. If 6-s-trans binding occurred, the ring C1-methyls could replace the C5-methyl in its interaction with the chain C8-hydrogen to preserve the steric barrier to Batho decay, consistent with the kinetic results. The possibility of 6-s-trans binding for 5-demethylretinal also could account for the unexpected blue shift of 5-demethyl visual pigments and could explain why 5-demethyl artificial pigments regenerate so slowly. Although the mesityl analogue BSI's absorption spectrum was blue-shifted relative to its pigment spectrum, the blue shift was much smaller than for rhodopsin's or 5-demethylisorhodopsin's BSI. This suggests that increased C6-C7 torsion may be responsible for some of BSI's blue shift, which is not the case for mesityl analogue BSI either because of reduced spectral sensitivity to C6-C7 torsion or because the symmetry of the mesityl retinal analogue precludes having 6-s-cis and 6-s-trans conformers. The similarity of the mesityl analogue BSI and native BSI lambda(max) values supports the idea that BSI has a 6-s angle near 90 degrees, a condition which could disconnect the chain (and BSI's spectrum) from the double bond specifics of the ring.     

EDITORIAL

Abstract— Even linear conjugated polyenes absorb at a wavelength much shorter than their odd polyene analogues. One way even polyenes can be converted into odd polyenes is by simple protonation. The odd polyene, the retinyliccation, absorbs at a wavelength long enough, 600 nm, to accommodate known visual pigments. Protonated unsymmetrical π-systems terminating in nitrogen have the ability to absorb at intermediate and long wavelengths. The actual excitation energy is a function of the anionic radius. Consequently, the wavelength in a visual pigment can be regulated by the distance between the centers of positive and negative charges for the N-retinylidenealkylammonium cation.     

ISOMER COMPOSITION and SPECTRA OF THE DARK and LIGHT ADAPTED FORMS OF ARTIFICIAL BACTERIORHODOPSINS*

Abstract– The isomer composition and spectral properties of 15 artificial bacteriorhodopsin (bR) pigments, based on a series of retinal analogs with polyene residue modified below C₉ are determined for both dark-adapted (DA) and light-adapted (LA) forms. Similarly to native bR, in all cases only two isomers, C₁₃=C₁₄cis (13-cis) and M-trans, are observed. However, the artificial DA pigments have a lower 13-d.s content than native DA bR (? 66%) while the corresponding LA pigments have a much higher 13-cis content (11-69%) than native LA bR (<2%). Thus, in variance with the native pigment, in all of the artificial systems light also induced the reversed all-trans13-cis process. The data are accounted for in terms of specific steric interactions between the polyene and the protein binding site which allow a (C₁₅-anti)(C_ls-syn) isomerization during the photocycle of the artificial pigments, but not in the case of native bR. This accounts for the high proton pumping efficiency of the natural pigment. The nature of a highly red shifted light-adapted form of two of the artificial pigments is investigated and discussed. It is also shown that, in variance with native bR, several artificial pigments exhibit identical absorption spectra for their 13-cis and all-trans isomers. It is concluded that the spectral data for the above species of artificial pigments do not lead to a clear molecular model for the origin of the spectral shift between 13-cis and all-trans bR.     

Molecular mechanics of retinal: Twisting mechanism of chromophore in visual pigment

In a model calculation pulli 11-cis retinal (9-cis retinal) from both end sides, the 11–12 double bond (9–10 double bond) is found to be selectively twisted. This property is promising for the twisting mechanism of retinal chromophore in visual pigment as assumed by the Kakitani and Kakitani torsion model.     

9-cis Retinal increased in retina of RPE65 knockout mice with decrease in coat pigmentation

The protein RPE65 is essential for the generation of the native chromophore, 11-cis retinal, of visual pigments. However, the Rpe65 knockout (Rpe65-/-) mouse shows a minimal visual response due to the presence of a pigment, isorhodopsin, formed with 9-cis retinal. Isorhodopsin accumulates linearly with prolonged dark-rearing of the animals. The majority of Rpe65-/- mice have an agouti coat color. A tan coat color subset of Rpe65-/- mice was found to have an enhanced visual response as measured by electroretinograms. The enhanced response was found to be due to increased levels of 9-cis retinal and isorhodopsin pigment levels. Animals of both coat colors reared in cyclic light have minimal levels of regenerated pigment and show photoreceptor degeneration. On dark-rearing, pigment accumulates and photoreceptor degeneration is decreased. In the tan Rpe65-/- mice, the level of photoreceptor degeneration is less than in the agouti animals, which have an increased pigment and decreased free opsin level. Therefore, photoreceptor damage correlates with the amount of the apoprotein present, supporting findings that the activity from unregenerated opsin can lead to photoreceptor degeneration.     

Pteridines. Part LXXXV. Chemical synthesis of deoxysepiapterin and 6-acylpteridines by acyl radical substitution reactions

A new synthesis of deoxysepiapterin ( 2 ), one of the two yellow eye pigments of the Drosophila mutant sepia, is described. The synthetic approach makes use of a homolytic nucleophilic acylation of 7-(alkylthio)pteridine derivatives ( 11, 13, 15, 18, 20 ) leading to the corresponding 6-acyl derivatives ( 21–27 ). Desulfurizations have been achieved for the first time in the pteridine series using Raney-Co,Raney-Cu, or Cu? Al alloy in alkaline medium. Besides cleavage of the C(7)? S bond, further reductions of the C?O group at C(6) and the C(7)?N(8) bond are detected as side reactions leading to 6-(1-hydroxyalkyl) ( 34, 35, 42, 43 ) and 6-acyl-7,8-dihydro derivatives ( 2, 36, 37 ), respectively, The newly synthesized compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, p_K determination, UV and ¹H-NMR spectra.     

Light-induced charge redistribution in the retinal chromophore is required for initiating the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle

Bacteriorhodopsin's photocycle is initiated by the retinal chromophore light absorption. It has usually been assumed that light primarily isomerizes a retinal double bond which in turn induces protein conformational alterations and biological activity. We have studied several artificial pigments derived from retinal analogues tailored to substantially reduce the light-induced chromophore polarization. The lack of chromophore polarization was reflected in an undetectable second harmonic generation (SHG) signal. It was revealed that these artificial pigments did not exhibit any detectable light-induced photocycle nor light acceleration of the hydroxylamine-bleaching reaction. We suggest that light-induced retinal polarization triggers protein polarization which controls the course of the isomerization reaction by determining the relative efficiency of forward versus back-branching processes.