title: Measurements of the stabilities of isolated retinal chromophores.
abstract: The barrier energies for isomerization and fragmentation were measured for a series of retinal chromophore derivatives using a tandem ion mobility spectrometry approach. These measurements allow us to quantify the effect of charge delocalization on the rigidity of chromophores. We find that the role of the methyl group on the C13 position is pivotal regarding the ground state dynamics of the chromophore. Additionally, a correlation between quasi-equilibrium isomer distribution and fragmentation pathways is observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Institute of Nanotechnology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Musbat
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Institute of Nanotechnology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nihamkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Institute of Nanotechnology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toker
authors.affiliation: Spectrum Warfare Systems Department, NSWC Crane Division, Crane, Indiana 47522, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dilger
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: El-Baba
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Clemmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kronik
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirshfeld
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sheves
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007536:Isomerism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D055550:Protein Stability; D012160:Retina / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012545:Schiff Bases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012545:Schiff Bases; D012243:Rhodopsin