title: Transient light-induced conformational changes in rhodopsin.
abstract: Arguments are presented which support the possibility that the unfolding of the rhodopsin molecule during photolysis up to the stage of metarhodopsin II is followed by a spontaneous refolding  of the protein, once the isomerized retinaldehyde has left its original binding site. Such a transient conformational change might imply a very similar conformation for rhodopsin and opsin, apart from the presence of the chromophore.
mesh_terms: D003902:Detergents; D008027:Light; D010782:Photolysis; D011487:Protein Conformation / Q000528:radiation effects; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; D012168:Retinal Pigments; D012243:Rhodopsin