Kataoka M, Kamikubo H
Department of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama-machi, Ikoma, Nara 630-0101, Japan.
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2000 Aug 30;1460(1):166-76. doi: 10.1016/s0005-2728(00)00137-7.
It is widely accepted that bacteriorhodopsin undergoes global conformational changes during its photocycle. In this review, the structural properties of the M and N intermediates are described in detail. Based on the clarified global conformational change, we propose a model for the molecular mechanism of the proton pump. The global structural change is suggested to be a key component in establishing vectorial proton transport.
