Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Proton Transfer and Protein Conformation Dynamics in Photosensitive Proteins by Time-resolved Step-scan Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Published on: June 27, 2014
Product formation in rhodopsin by fast hydrogen motions
Oliver Weingart1, Piero Altoè, Marco Stenta
1Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhem-Platz 1, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. Weingart@mpi-muelheim.mpg.de
Abstract:
The photochemical cis-trans isomerization of retinal in rhodopsin is investigated by structure sampling and excited state QM/MM trajectories with surface hopping. The calculations uncover the motions responsible for photoproduct formation and elucidate the reasons behind the efficient photoisomerization in the primary event of visual transduction.
Related Concept Videos
Channel Rhodopsins
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
ATP Synthase: Mechanism
The Retina
Photosystem I
Both these photosystems work in concert. An excited electron from PSII is relayed to PSI via an electron transport chain in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast, which is comprised of the carrier molecule plastoquinone, the dual-protein cytochrome complex, and plastocyanin. As electrons move between PSII and PSI, they lose energy and must be re-energized...
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
Sensory organs,...

