Preparation and properties of phospholipid bilayers containing rhodopsin

Purified rhodopsin has been prepared containing less than 1.1 mol of phosphate per mol of protein. The purified rhodopsin has been incorporated into phosphatidylcholine bilayers, and the molecular interactions within the bilayers were investigated by the use of spin-labeled phosphatidylcholines. Rhodopsin appears to inhibit segmental motions of the hydrocarbon chains, an effect similar to that of cholesterol on phospholipid bilayers.