Retinal Schiff base chromophore in the surfactant solubilised water pools in CCl4

All-trans-N-retinylidene-n-butylamine Schiff base has been incorporated into AOT/CCl4 reverse micelles of various water pool sizes (omega = 0-20). The nature of interaction between retinal Schiff base and its surroundings in the micellar microenvironment has been investigated by NMR (1H-NMR and T1 studies). The Schiff base is found to undergo hydrogen bond interactions with bound water molecules. The results are discussed in terms of the implication of hydrogen bond interactions in retinal proteins, particularly, bacteriorhodopsin.