Kinetic Analysis of H⁺–Na⁺ Selectivity in a Light-Driven Na⁺-Pumping Rhodopsin

Krokinobacter eikastus rhodopsin 2 (KR2) is a recently identified light-driven Na(+) pump from a marine bacterium. KR2 pumps Na(+) in NaCl solution but pumps H(+) in the absence of Na(+) and Li(+). The Na(+) transport mechanism in KR2 has been extensively studied, whereas understanding of the H(+) transport mechanism is very limited. Here we studied ion uptake mechanisms and H(+)-Na(+) selectivity using flash photolysis. The results show that...