Bacteriorhodopsin as a Photochromic Retinal Protein for Optical Memories
About: This article is published in ChemInform.The article was published on 2000-07-18. It has received 94 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Bacteriorhodopsin & Retinal.
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TL;DR: The development of molecular switches and the discoveries that culminated in the first light-driven molecular motor are described and the construction of the first and second generation molecular motors are presented.
Abstract: The design of molecular systems in which controlled linear and rotary motion can be achieved under the influence of an external signal is a major endeavor toward future nanoscale machinery. In this Account we describe the development of molecular switches and the discoveries that culminated in the first light-driven molecular motor. Various chiral optical molecular switches and their use as trigger elements to control organization and functions will be discussed. The construction of the first and second generation molecular motors is presented.
541 citations
TL;DR: This review highlights the use of directed evolution to optimize photoactive proteins, with an emphasis on bacteriorhodopsin (BR), for device applications, and shows great promise in three-dimensional optical memories, real-time holographic processors and artificial retinas.
Abstract: In nature, biological systems gradually evolve through complex, algorithmic processes involving mutation and differential selection. Evolution has optimized biological macromolecules for a variety of functions to provide a comparative advantage. However, nature does not optimize molecules for use in human-made devices, as it would gain no survival advantage in such cooperation. Recent advancements in genetic engineering, most notably directed evolution, have allowed for the stepwise manipulation of the properties of living organisms, promoting the expansion of protein-based devices in nanotechnology. In this review, we highlight the use of directed evolution to optimize photoactive proteins, with an emphasis on bacteriorhodopsin (BR), for device applications. BR, a highly stable light-activated proton pump, has shown great promise in three-dimensional optical memories, real-time holographic processors and artificial retinas.
71 citations
TL;DR: A protocol for functional in vitro production of pR using a commercial cell-free synthesis system yielding 1.0mg purified protein per milliliter of cell lysate is presented and an optimized protocol for in vivo over-expression of pProteorhodopsin in Escherichia coli is presented.
63 citations
Cites background from "Bacteriorhodopsin as a Photochromic..."
...radiation into electrical energy [13]; optical data storage [14]; and numerous additional areas [12,15]....
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...The photosensitivity, cyclicity, and high stability of bR [12], have made it a popular subject for studies for potential commercialization....
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TL;DR: Photoelectrochemical and transient absorption studies indicate efficient charge transfer between bR protein molecules and TiO2 nanoparticles between visible light-driven hydrogen generation and light harvesting proton pump bacteriorhodopsin assembled on Pt/TiO2 nanocatalyst.
Abstract: Nanophotocatalysis is one of the potentially efficient ways of capturing and storing solar energy. Biological energy systems that are intrinsically nanoscaled can be employed as building blocks for engineering nanobio-photocatalysts with tunable properties. Here, we report upon the application of light harvesting proton pump bacteriorhodopsin (bR) assembled on Pt/TiO2 nanocatalyst for visible light-driven hydrogen generation. The hybrid system produces 5275 μmole of H2 (μmole protein)(-1) h(-1) at pH 7 in the presence of methanol as a sacrificial electron donor under white light. Photoelectrochemical and transient absorption studies indicate efficient charge transfer between bR protein molecules and TiO2 nanoparticles.
63 citations
TL;DR: Reduced graphene oxide and a membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin were employed as building modules to harness visible light by a Pt/TiO2 nanocatalyst to boost the nano-bio catalyst performance that results in hydrogen production rates of approximately 11.24 mmol of H2.
Abstract: Photocatalytic production of clean hydrogen fuels using water and sunlight has attracted remarkable attention due to the increasing global energy demand. Natural and synthetic dyes can be utilized to sensitize semiconductors for solar energy transformation using visible light. In this study, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and a membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin (bR) were employed as building modules to harness visible light by a Pt/TiO2 nanocatalyst. Introduction of the rGO boosts the nano-bio catalyst performance that results in hydrogen production rates of approximately 11.24 mmol of H2 (μmol protein)−1 h–1. Photoelectrochemical measurements show a 9-fold increase in photocurrent density when TiO2 electrodes were modified with rGO and bR. Electron paramagnetic resonance and transient absorption spectroscopy demonstrate an interfacial charge transfer from the photoexcited rGO to the semiconductor under visible light.
53 citations
Cites background from "Bacteriorhodopsin as a Photochromic..."
...Being expressed by an extremophile, PMs are naturally evolved to tolerate, thrive, and maintain their photoreactivity under demanding conditions, including exposure to light and oxygen, high ionic strength (3 M NaCl), temperatures over 80 C (in water) and 140 C (dry), at pH values of 0 12 and digestion by proteases.(22) When bR is utilized as a functional module in a nano-bio photocatalyst, it assists in harnessing visible light....
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