Aton B, Doukas A G, Callender R H, Becher B, Ebrey T G
Biochim Biophys Acta. 1979 Feb 26;576(2):424-8. doi: 10.1016/0005-2795(79)90417-3.
The resonance Raman spectrum of the dark-adapted form of the purple membrane protein (bacteriorhodopsin) has been obtained and is compared to the light-adapted pigment and model chromophore spectra. As in the light-adapted form, the chromophore-protein linkage is found to be a protonated Schiff base. Electron delocalization appears to play the dominant role in color regulation. The dark-adapted spectrum indicates a conformation closer to 13-cis than the light-adapted spectrum.