Crystal Structures of the L1, L2, N, and O States of pharaonis Halorhodopsin

Halorhodopsin from Natronomonas pharaonis (pHR) functions as a light-driven halide ion pump. In the presence of halide ions, the photochemical reaction of pHR is described by the scheme: K→ L1 → L2 → N → O → pHR' → pHR. Here, we report light-induced structural changes of the pHR-bromide complex observed in the C2 crystal. In the L1-to-L2 transition, the bromide ion that initially exists in the extracellular vicinity of retinal moves across the...