Infrared spectrum of the purple membrane: clue to a proton conduction mechanism?
The infrared spectrum of the purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium has amide I and amide A frequencies that are anomalously high for standard alpha-helical structures. Normal mode calculations indicate that these and other unusual features of the spectrum can be attributed to alpha 11-helices. Such structures suggest that the helix backbone may provide the framework through which proton transport takes place.
D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002338:Carotenoids; D006217:Halobacterium / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D007473:Ion Channels; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011522:Protons; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
D007473:Ion Channels; D011522:Protons; D002338:Carotenoids; D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins