Understanding the Primary Event of Vision
Seminar
Speaker
Igor Schapiro - HUJI
Date
01/03/2016 - 17:00 - 16:00Add to Calendar
2016-03-01 16:00:00
2016-03-01 17:00:00
Understanding the Primary Event of Vision
The primary event of vision in the vertebrate eye is the highly selective and efficient photoisomerization of 11-cis-retinal protonated Schiff base (RPSB) bound to the visual protein rhodopsin (Rh). With a ~100% selectivity, ~65% quantum yield, and ~200 fs product appearance time, this isomerization is considered the archetype of a photochemical reaction optimized by nature to achieve a specific molecular response.
Recently, we have used a combination of a quantum chemical and a classical force field method (QM/MM) to resolve the isomerization mechanism for the RPSB chromophore in Rhodopsin[1]. Important stereoelectronic factors were found that determine the outcome of the photoisomerization. The same protocol was also applied to investigate the photochemical mechanism of the newly discovered Anabaena Sensory Rhodopsin[2] and of a biomimetic molecular switch that works in solution[3].
Using the same computational protocol we have also studied the ground state (thermal) isomerization.[4] The results of the simulations explain the molecular mechanism of thermal noise in rod photoreceptors and make a direct link to experimentally found correlations for night vision.
References:
[1] Schapiro I, Ryazantsev M N, Frutos L M, Ferré N, Lindh R, Olivucci M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2011), 133, 3354.
[2] Schapiro I, Ruhman S. Biochim Biophys Acta. (2014), 1837, 589.
[3] Léonard J, Schapiro I, Briand J, Fusi S, Paccani R R, Olivucci M, Haacke S. Chem. Eur. J. (2012), 18, 15296.
[4] Gozem S, Schapiro I, Ferré N, Olivucci M. Science (2012), 33, 6099.
Physics Auditorium, Building 202 Room 301
Department of Physics
physics.dept@mail.biu.ac.il
Asia/Jerusalem
public
Place
Physics Auditorium, Building 202 Room 301
Abstract
The primary event of vision in the vertebrate eye is the highly selective and efficient photoisomerization of 11-cis-retinal protonated Schiff base (RPSB) bound to the visual protein rhodopsin (Rh). With a ~100% selectivity, ~65% quantum yield, and ~200 fs product appearance time, this isomerization is considered the archetype of a photochemical reaction optimized by nature to achieve a specific molecular response.
Recently, we have used a combination of a quantum chemical and a classical force field method (QM/MM) to resolve the isomerization mechanism for the RPSB chromophore in Rhodopsin[1]. Important stereoelectronic factors were found that determine the outcome of the photoisomerization. The same protocol was also applied to investigate the photochemical mechanism of the newly discovered Anabaena Sensory Rhodopsin[2] and of a biomimetic molecular switch that works in solution[3].
Using the same computational protocol we have also studied the ground state (thermal) isomerization.[4] The results of the simulations explain the molecular mechanism of thermal noise in rod photoreceptors and make a direct link to experimentally found correlations for night vision.
References:
[1] Schapiro I, Ryazantsev M N, Frutos L M, Ferré N, Lindh R, Olivucci M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2011), 133, 3354.
[2] Schapiro I, Ruhman S. Biochim Biophys Acta. (2014), 1837, 589.
[3] Léonard J, Schapiro I, Briand J, Fusi S, Paccani R R, Olivucci M, Haacke S. Chem. Eur. J. (2012), 18, 15296.
[4] Gozem S, Schapiro I, Ferré N, Olivucci M. Science (2012), 33, 6099.
Last Updated Date : 05/12/2022
