Bacteriorhodopsin

Biochemistry I Spring & Fall Terms

Bacteriorhodopsin Structure

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Bacteriorhodopsin (Cartoons, colored structure) is shown with one layer of phospholipid and several layers of water. The retinal chromophore is Spacefill, colored purple. The extracellular side is at bottom.
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Phospholipids.

Waters.
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Phospholipids.

Waters.
Distances (Å):

a-Helix (length, 22 residues)

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These features were noted in Lecture 25 (F'00):
The protein has seven a-helices that span the bilayer.
The membrane-exposed surface is highly hydrophobic.
The charged/polar residues are at the solvent interfaces and also line the internal hydrophilic channel.
11.10.99: Problem Set #10, question 3 (F'99):
Side chains of polar residues in the channel (Ball & Stick).

A Membrane Protein for Modern/Cell Biology shows this structure embedded in a larger chunk of bilayer membrane.

Four more membrane protein structures:
Bacteriorhodopsin K⁺-Channel Maltoporin a-Hemolysin Reaction Center

Back to the Protein Structure List or the Rainbow Diagrams.

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8.21.01