PHOTOSENSITIVE BILAYER MEMBRANES AS MODEL SYSTEMS FOR PHOTOBIOLOGICAL PROCESSES

Abstract— Photobiological processes such as photosynthesis, photomorphogenesis, photomovement, and photoreception are all associated with the membranous portions of cells. The unique properties of membrane surfaces are apparently required to achieve biologically relevant energy transduction and photocontrol phenomena and consequently the use of model membrane systems is suggested as an advantageous approach to elucidation of the important physical and chemical processes involved. Black lipid membrane (BLM) and liposome techniques are critically reviewed as preferred techniques for constructing and manipulating lipid bilayers. The lipid bilayer is considered to be the basic foundation for biological membrane models, and specific physical phenomena observed with the bilayers and their biological ramifications are analyzed. Light-stimulated polarization of the membrane and electron transfer across the bilayer are viewed as appropriate analogs of vision and photosynthesis, respectively. Bilayer-adsorbed dye experiments are the simplest systems explored that exhibit polarization and charge transfer across the membrane. Chloroplast extract BLM experiments are cited as an example of the light-stimulated transfer of electrons across the membrane under the influence of a preexisting redox gradient. Biliprotein (phycocyanin or phycoerythrin) on one side of the chloroplast extract membrane permits the direction of electron flow across the membrane so that a redox gradient is created in a manner truly analogous to photosynthesis. The potential for solar energy conversion from such membranes is explicitly considered utilizing a schematic photoelectrochemical cell. Model membranes containing bacterial rhodopsin and phytochrome represent examples of ionic gradients that result in biological energy transduction. Studies of membranes that exhibit transient photoeffects are considered potentially relevant for the elucidation of phototaxis. The analysis of many properties of photosensitive membranes is greatly aided by the use of appropriate theoretical models. It is apparent that there is a great potential for the application of photosensitive model membranes in many research areas involving complex photobiological phenomena and novel methods for solar energy conversion.