ISSN:
1573-6881
Keywords:
Phototaxis
;
photoreception
;
signal transduction
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Recent progress is summarized on the mechanism of phototransduction by sensory rhodopsin I (SR-I), a phototaxis receptor inHalobacterium halobium. Two aspects are emphasized: (i)The coupling of retinal isomerization to protein conformational changes. Retinal analogs have been used to probe chromophore-apoprotein interactions during the receptor activation process. One of the most important results is the finding of a steric trigger deriving from the interaction of residues on the protein with a methyl group near the isomerizing bond of the retinal (at carbon 13). Recent work on molecular genetic methods to further probe structure/function includes the synthesis and expression of an SR-I apoprotein gene designed for residue replacements by cassette mutagenesis, and transformation of anH. halobium mutant lacking all retinylidene proteins known in this species to SR-I+ and bacteriorhodopsin (BR)+. (ii)The relay of the SR-I signal to a post-receptor component. A carboxylmethylated protein (“MPP-I”) associated with SR-I and found in theH. halobium membrane exhibits homology with the signaling domain of eubacterial chemotaxis transducers (e.g.,Escherichia coli Tar, Tsr, and Trg proteins), suggesting a model based on SR-I → MPP-I signal relay.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00762677
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