[New intermediates in the photochemical transformation of rhodopsin]

The conditions of preferential accumulation of intermediates of the photochemical reaction cycle of bacteriorhodopsin (BR) P550 and P419 at low temperature are found. Upon illumination P550 and P419 undergo photochemical conversions into the light-adapted form of BR (P570), forming during this conversions a number of new intermediates: P550 leads to P560-- -- -- leads to P570; P419 leads to P421-- -- -- leads to P565-- -- -- leads to P585-- -- -- leads to P570; P419 leads to P470-- -- -- leads to P570. All intermediates are photoactive. All light reactions are photoreversible and give formation to the products with absorption maximum shifted to the red as compared to the initial state. The absorption spectra of intermediates are complex and include several bands which are more pronounced in the spectrum of P419 (maxima at 442, 419, 398 nm, a shoulder at 375 nm) and P421, less in the spectrum of P570 (maximum at 578 nm, shoulders at 540 and 608 nm) and others.