bacteriorhodopsin
protein
Quick Summary
Bacteriorhodopsin is a purple-pigmented protein found in the outer membrane of certain bacteria, such as Halobacterium salinarium. Its primary function is to convert light energy into chemical energy, which is then used in the synthesis of ATP. This process is similar to how rhodopsin, a pigment found in the retinas of many animals, converts light into electrical signals for vision. Bacteriorhodopsin is a type of microbial opsin, a class of light-sensitive proteins used in optogenetics to control cellular activity.123
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