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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Proton Transfer and Protein Conformation Dynamics in Photosensitive Proteins by Time-resolved Step-scan Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy

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Published on: June 27, 2014

Bacteriorhodopsin-based photo-electrochemical cell.

Li-Kang Chu¹, Chun-Wan Yen, Mostafa A El-Sayed

¹Laser Dynamics Laboratory, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0400, United States.

Biosensors & Bioelectronics

|August 20, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a novel electrochemical cell to detect the photoelectric response of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) without external bias. This advancement offers a new pathway for solar energy conversion using bR

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Electrochemistry
Renewable Energy

Background:

Bacteriorhodopsin (bR) is a light-driven proton pump with potential applications in energy conversion.
Previous studies on bR photoelectric responses often required film-based devices and external bias.

Purpose of the Study:

To construct and validate a simple solution-based electrochemical cell for detecting bR's photoelectric response.
To investigate the influence of pH and ionic strength on the bR photoelectric effect in a solution-based system.

Main Methods:

Utilized indium tin oxide (ITO) glasses as electrodes and optical windows.
Employed bR suspensions in a two-half-cell configuration separated by a porous membrane.
Photoexcited bR using continuous broadband visible light and a pulsed laser.

Main Results:

Successfully detected photoelectric current from bR without external bias.
Observed pH-dependent photocurrent with polarity inversion around pH 5-6, consistent with bR photocycle dynamics.
Ionic strength (KCl concentration) affected response kinetics and stationary current.

Conclusions:

The developed solution-based electrochemical cell effectively captures bR's photoelectric response.
This method facilitates solar energy to electricity conversion without complex film-based devices.
The aqueous system supports bR's proton pumping function, crucial for photovoltaic applications.