Picosecond and Nanosecond Components in Bacteriorhodopsin Light-Induced Electric Response Signal

Numerous investigations on the primary events of the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle indicate that the first steps of the energy transformation process take place in the 500 fs-5 ps region. These processes are known to be followed by others in the μs and ms regions. Recent observations indicate also the existence of nanosecond intermediate(s). Here we are reporting on direct measurements of the light-induced electric response signal of purple membrane carried out in the ps and ns regions. The laser flash-induced electric response of dried oriented purple membrane samples were detected by an ultrafast sampling oscilloscope. The measured kinetic curves were analyzed by exponential fitting and by a simulation-optimization method taking into account the time characteristics of the measuring setup. This analysis revealed a two phase real charge separation process. The first phase (tau = 21±2 ps) coincides well with the overall bR-[unk] K transition. The second phase (tau = 6±0.5 ns) can be correlated with the nanosecond optical transitions reported by several workers, or may be an optically silent charge movement inside the protein moiety or on the surface of the membrane

Spectroscopie d'émission infrarouge femtoseconde des protéines photoréceptrices orientées

International audienceCe travail a pour but l'étude de la dynamique primaire des protéines et de leur rôle dans la fonction du complexe protéique. La technique utilisée est une spectroscopie femtoseconde non linéaire ( $\chi ^{(2)}$) dans le domaine moyen infrarouge. L'ensemble des mouvements de charge induits par une excitation ultra-brève (~11fs) d'un échantillon de membranes orientées de bactériorhodopsine, un analogue bactérien de la protéine photoréceptrice du système visuel chez les mammifères, donne lieu à une émission directionnelle infrarouge (redressement optique). Les caractéristiques de cette émission (fréquence, phase, amplitude, direction) reflètent la réponse électronique et vibrationnelle de la molécule