Sandbox Reserved 819: Difference between revisions

The trimeric structure functions as a light-driven proton pump thanks to a retinal molecule, called <scene name='56/568017/New_scene_ret_2/1'>RET</scene>, which changes its conformation when absorbing a photon, resulting in a conformational change of the surrounding protein and the proton pumping action. Others ligands are linked with each subunit of the trimeric structure like the bacterioruberin (<scene name='56/568017/22b/1'>22B</scene>). Several saccharides are also linked to the trimeric structure. The bacterioruberin is a 50 carbon carotenoid pigment which give a red color to the membrane . The primary role of bacterioruberin in the cell is to protect against DNA damage incurred by UV light. This protection is not, however, due to the ability of bacterioruberin to absorb UV light. Bacterioruberin protects the DNA by acting as an antioxidant, rather than directly blocking UV light. It is able to protect the cell from reactive oxygen species produced from exposure to UV by acting as a target. Furthermore, the bacterioruberin is essential because it plays a structural role for the trimerization of aR2.