Resonance raman spectroscopy of an ultraviolet-sensitive insect rhodopsin

Journal Article · Tue Nov 17 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Biochemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/bi00397a034· OSTI ID:5357156

Pande, C; Deng, H; Rath, P; Callender, R H; Schwemer, J

The authors present the first visual pigment resonance Raman spectra from the UV-sensitive eyes of an insect, Ascalaphus macaronius (owlfly). This pigment contains 11-cis-retinal as the chromophore. Raman data have been obtained for the acid metarhodopsin at 10/sup 0/C in both H/sub 2/O and D/sub 2/O. The C=N stretching mode at 1660 cm/sup -1/ in H/sub 2/O shifts to 1631 cm/sup -1/ upon deuteriation of the sample, clearly showing a protonated Schiff base linkage between the chromophore and the protein. The structure-sensitive fingerprint region shows similarities to the all-trans-protonated Schiff base of model retinal chromophores, as well as to the octopus acid metarhodopsin and bovine metarhodopsin I. Although spectra measured at -100/sup 0/C with 406.7-nm excitation, to enhance scattering from rhodopsin (lambda/sub max/ 345 nm), contain a significant contribution from a small amount of contaminants (cytochrome(s) and/or accessory pigment) in the sample, the C=N stretch at 1664 cm/sup -1/ suggests a protonated Schiff base linkage between the chromophore and the protein in rhodopsin as well. For comparison, this mode also appears at approx. 1660 cm/sup -1/ in both the vertebrate (bovine) and the invertebrate (octopus) rhodopsins. These data are particularly interesting since the absorption maximum of 345 nm for rhodopsin might be expected to originate from an unprotonated Schiff base linkage. That the Schiff base linkage in the owlfly rhodopsin, like in bovine and in octopus, is protonated suggests that a charged chromophore is essential to visual transduction.

• Research Organization: City College of New York, NY
• OSTI ID: 5357156
• Journal Information: Biochemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Biochemistry; (United States) Vol. 26:23; ISSN BICHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
BARYONS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CHEMICAL BONDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EYES
FACE
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HEAD
HEAVY WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IMINES
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
NEAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
NUCLEONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOSENSITIVITY
PIGMENTS
PROTEINS
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
RAMAN SPECTRA
RHODOPSIN
SCHIFF BASES
SENSE ORGANS
SENSITIVITY
SPECTRA
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
WATER