We have used high-speed atomic force microscopy to study the dynamics of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) molecules at the free interface of the crystalline phase that occurs naturally in purple membrane. Our results reveal temporal fluctuations at the crystal edges arising from the association and dissociation of bR molecules, most predominantly pre-formed trimers. Analysis of the dissociation kinetics ...

Find the secret to improve the quality of life by reading this methods in enzymology vol 81 biomembranes part h visual pigments and purple membranes i. This is a kind of book that you need now. Besides, it can be your favorite book to read after having this book. Do you ask why? Well, this is a book that has different characteristic with others. You may not need to know who the author is, how w...

Reaction centres are membrane-embedded pigment-protein complexes that transduce the energy of sunlight into a biologically useful form. The most heavily studied reaction centres are the PS-I (Photosystem I) and PS-II complexes from oxygenic phototrophs, and the reaction centre from purple photosynthetic bacteria. A great deal is known about the compositions and structures of these reaction cent...

Proteorhodopsin is the membrane protein used by marine bacterioplankton as a light-driven proton pump. Here, we describe a rapid cooperative assembly process directed by universal electrostatic interactions that spontaneously organizes proteorhodopsin molecules into ordered arrays with well defined orientation and packing density. We demonstrate the charge density-matching mechanism that select...

The presence of phenolic compounds in fruit- and vegetable-rich diets has attracted researchers' attention due to their health-promoting effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of purple pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) extract on cell proliferation, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, cell death and cell cycle in murine activated hepatic stellate cells (GRX). Cel...

The decay rate of the Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) photocycle intermediate M412 and proton, the proton pump efficiency (H+/M412), the ratios of M412 to other intermediates and the rotational correlation time (tauc) in purple membrane (PM) fragments treated by the zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) with different concentrations were studied. The r...

We first describe the history and methods of membrane protein crystallization, and show how the structure of the photosynthetic reaction centre from the purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis was solved. The structure of this membrane protein complex is correlated with its function as a light-driven electron pump across the photosynthetic membrane. Finally we draw conclusions on the structur...

We first describe the history and methods of membrane protein crystallization, and show how the structure of the photosynthetic reaction centre from the purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis was solved. The structure of this membrane protein complex is correlated with its function as a light-driven electron pump across the photosynthetic membrane. Finally we draw conclusions on the structur...