Infrared spectroscopic demonstration of a conformational change in bacteriorhodopsin involved in proton pumping

Infrared spectral changes in bacteriorhodopsin (bR) were followed during the slow decay of the M intermediate in the temperature region 240-260 K. The decay of the M form is characterized by the disappearance of the ethylenic bands and the bands indicating the reprotonation of the Schiff base. The route of Schiff-base reprotonation completely changes between 240 K and 260 K. At 240 K reprotonation occurs from Asp-85, the group to which the proton was released during M formation, and there is no pumping. At 260 K Schiff-base reprotonation takes place through Asp-96 from the cytoplasmic side, in the normal sequence assumed for proton pumping. The dramatic change in the route of Schiff-base reprotonation is coupled to a protein conformational change characterized by the change of the ratio of the two amide I bands at 1658 cm-1 and 1669 cm-1. This conformational change is interpreted as the conformational switch crucial for proton pumping: a protein relaxation following M formation results in a local rearrangement of the group, in the vicinity of the Schiff base. The rearrangement changes the accessibility of the Schiff base and provides that its deprotonation and reprotonation occur on different sides. The conformational change has characteristics typical for relaxations in proteins. In addition, it is shown that at 260 K an equilibrium exists between the M and N forms.