Proton transfers in the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle

Abstract

The steps in the mechanism of proton transport in bacteriorhodopsin include examples for most kinds of proton transfer reactions that might occur in a transmembrane pump: proton transfer via a bridging water molecule, coupled protonation/deprotonation of two buried groups separated by a considerable distance, long-range proton migration over a hydrogen-bonded aqueous chain, and capture as well as release of protons at the membrane-water interface. The conceptual and technical advantages of this system have allowed close examination of many of these model reactions, some at an atomic level.