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. 1978 Apr;22(1):49–66. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(78)85470-8

Energy transfer in the purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium.

J B Hurley, T G Ebrey
PMCID: PMC1473394  PMID: 638226

Abstract

The absorption spectrum of the primary photoproduct (the bathoproduct, or K) of the purple membrane protein (PM) at-196 degrees C has a maximum at 628 nm and an extinction coefficient of 87,000. Knowing the absorption spectrum allowed us to calculate the quantum efficiencies for PM to K and K to PM conversion at -196 degrees C. Direct measurements of these quantum yeilds at -196 degrees C gave 0.33 +/- 0.05 and 0.67 +/- 0.04, respectively. Determination of relative quantum efficiencies for PM to K and K to PM conversion by analysis of the absorption spectra of several photostationary-state mixtures of PM and K at -196 degrees C, however, gave wavelength-dependent quantum efficiencies that appear to be greater than 1. These anomolous results can be readily explained in terms of energy transfer from PM to K within the trimer clusters of pigment molecules which exist in the purple membrane. A model for such a transfer predicts an efficiency of energy transfer from PM to K of about 43%.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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