title: Infrared studies of water induced conformational changes in bacteriorhodopsin.
abstract: Fourier transform infrared difference spectroscopy has been used to study the effect of water on the conformation of bacteriorhodopsin. The infrared spectra as a function of water content show a conformational change at about 0.06 g H2O/g bacteriorhodopsin. By an interference method the thickness of the sample was measured and shows similar behavior as a function of water content. This study gives insight into the process of water absorption by purple membrane. The observations are in good agreement with those found for other proteins.
mesh_terms: D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins