Quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical studies on spectral tuning mechanisms of visual pigments and other photoactive proteins.

ABSTRACT: The protein environments surrounding the retinal tune electronic absorption maximum from 350 to 630 nm. Hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) methods can be used in calculating excitation energies of retinal in its native protein environments and in studying the molecular basis of spectral tuning. We hereby review recent QM/MM results on the phototransduction of bovine rhodopsin, bacteriorhodopsin, sensory rhodopsin II, nonretinal photoactive yellow protein and their mutants.

SUBMITTER: Altun A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2575004 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature