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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Atomic Force Microscopy of Red-Light Photoreceptors Using PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping
Published on: October 24, 2014
Chromophore structure of the physiologically active form (P(fr)) of phytochrome
W Rüdiger1, F Thümmler, E Cmiel
1Botanisches Institut der Universität München, Menzinger Strasse 67, D-8000 München 19.
Abstract:
Chromopeptides were prepared by proteolytic digestion of phytochrome (far-red absorbing form, P(fr)) and of phycocyanin. The phycocyanobilin peptide, the chromophore of which is Z,Z,Z-configurated, was modified to the Z,Z,E isomeric chromophore. It has been demonstrated earlier that the P(fr) chromopeptide and the Z,Z,E-configurated phycocyanin chromopeptide behave similarly with regard to spectral and chromatographic properties and reactivity. We present evidence here, obtained by high-resolution (1)H NMR spectroscopy, that both the modified phycocyanobilin chromophore and the phytochrome chromophore obtained directly from P(fr) are 15E-configurated.
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