On the Critical Role of Vibrational Phase in the Photochemistry of Vision
Vibronic coupling is a critical component of most mechanisms invoking quantum effects in biological processes. However, it is not clear how properties associated with vibrational coherence such as phase and coupling of atomic motion impact the efficiency of light-induced processes. Here, we show that deuteration of the H11-C11=C12-H12 double-bond of the 11-cis retinal chromophore in the visual pigment rhodopsin significantly and unexpectedly alters the photoisomerization yield. These results reveal a new vibrational phase-dependent isotope effect.
Recent Comments
In addition, this work is a classic example of what is wrong with science funding and review. We would NEVER have gotten a proposal funded to make these isotopes and do these quantum yield experiments because the effect we discovered had never been seen. This was curiosity driven science which is never funded these days. The only way to do this work was to self fund with my income from royalties on DNA sequencing inventions that helped to do the first human genome. It is amusing that the human genome project indirectly allowed us to understand the primary photochemistry of vision.