Word: bacteriorhodopsin
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Continuing his research after transferring to California in 1967, Stoeckenius found that the pigment, called bacteriorhodopsin, functioned as a sort of pump, converting sunlight directly into electrochemical energy. Light striking a pigment molecule causes it to eject a hydrogen ion-or proton-that passes through the cell's membrane. The movement of the positively charged protons through the membrane leaves an excess of negative charge on one side of the membrane. That produces a voltage gradient and results in an electrical current flowing through the membrane. In the process, which involves at least five separate steps, each bacteriorhodopsin molecule...
Stoeckenius reported that researchers are already experimenting with bacteriorhodopsin in efforts to build a photoelectric cell. Stoeckenius also believes bacteriorhodopsin's chemical similarity to visual purple could help scientists better understand the basic processes of vision and could offer new insights into cell biology. "All living cells need to pump ions across their cell membranes," says Stoeckenius. "It seems to me that we are close to discovering certain basic cellular functions...
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