Bacteriorhodopsins (bR’s) modified by substitution of the chromophore with synthetic vitamin A analogues or by spontaneous mutation have been reported as successful examples of using biomaterials to construct molecular optoelectronic devices. The operation of these devices depends on desirable optical properties derived from molecular engineering. This report examines the effect of site‐directed mutagenesis on the photoelectric behavior of bR thin films with an emphasis on their application to the construction of molecular devices based on their unique photoelectric behavior. We examine the photoelectric signals induced by a microsecond light pulse in thin films which contain reconstituted oriented purple membrane sheets isolated from several mutant strains of Halobacterium halobium. A recently developed expression system is used to synthesize mutant bR’s in their natural host, H. halobium. We then use a unique analytical method (tunable voltage clamp method) to investigate the effect of pH on the relaxation of two components of the photoelectric signals, B1 and B2. We found that for the four mutant bR’s examined, the pH dependence of the B2 component varies significantly. Our results suggest that genetic engineering approaches can produce mutant bR’s with altered photoelectric characteristics that can be exploited in the construction of devices.
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20 July 1992
Molecular electronics—Science and Technology
Dec 1991
St. Thomas (Virgin Islands)
Research Article|
July 20 1992
Modifying the photoelectric behavior of bacteriorhodopsin by site‐directed mutagenesis: electrochemical and genetic engineering approaches to molecular devices
F. T. Hong;
F. T. Hong
Dept. of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201
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F. H. Hong;
F. H. Hong
Dept. of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201
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R. B. Needleman;
R. B. Needleman
Dept of Biochemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201
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B. Ni;
B. Ni
Dept of Biochemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201
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M. Chang
M. Chang
Dept of Biochemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201
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AIP Conf. Proc. 262, 204–217 (1992)
Citation
F. T. Hong, F. H. Hong, R. B. Needleman, B. Ni, M. Chang; Modifying the photoelectric behavior of bacteriorhodopsin by site‐directed mutagenesis: electrochemical and genetic engineering approaches to molecular devices. AIP Conf. Proc. 20 July 1992; 262 (1): 204–217. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.42653
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