Optical properties of Triton X-100-treated purple membranes embedded in gelatin films

The purple membrane (PM) of the microorganism Halobacterium salinarium contains a hexagonally packed monolayer of the light-sensitive protein, bacteriorhodopsin (BR). The optical characteristics of gelatin-immobilized PMs depend strongly on the chemical environment of the PMs in the matrix. Here we present photoinduced absorptive and holographic characteristics of gelatin-embedded PMs solubilized with the non-ionic detergent, Triton X-100. The BR/detergent interaction was shown to slow the M-to-initial state transition of the photocycle and to increase the photosensitivity of the BR films. The lifetime of the holographic grating in Triton X-100-treated BR films was 2–3 times greater, when compared to the unmodified sample. Holographic grating growth times in BR films were shown to change depending on the extent of solubilization. The measured holographic sensitivity appeared to maximize in the range of Triton X-100/BR molar ratios from 15:1 to 25:1. The possible advantages of solubilized PM films as they are applied to optoelectronic devices are discussed.