Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Preparation of Living Isolated Vertebrate Photoreceptor Cells for Fluorescence Imaging
Published on: June 22, 2011
Is the photoactive yellow protein a UV-B/blue light photoreceptor?
Elizabeth C Carroll1, Marijke Hospes, Carmen Valladares
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Abstract:
UV light below 300 nm is shown to generate the first photocycle intermediate in the blue light photoreceptor Photoactive Yellow Protein. Fluorescence and ultrafast transient absorption measurements indicate two excitation pathways: UV-B absorption by the chromophore and Fluorescence Resonant Energy Transfer (FRET) from tryptophan and tyrosine residues.
Related Concept Videos
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
The Photochemical Reaction Center
Channel Rhodopsins
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...
Photosystem II
The pigment molecules are arranged across two photosystem domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...
The Antenna Complex

