Proteorhodopsin phototrophy in the ocean

Nature. 2001 Jun 14;411(6839):786-9. doi: 10.1038/35081051.

Abstract

Proteorhodopsin, a retinal-containing integral membrane protein that functions as a light-driven proton pump, was discovered in the genome of an uncultivated marine bacterium; however, the prevalence, expression and genetic variability of this protein in native marine microbial populations remain unknown. Here we report that photoactive proteorhodopsin is present in oceanic surface waters. We also provide evidence of an extensive family of globally distributed proteorhodopsin variants. The protein pigments comprising this rhodopsin family seem to be spectrally tuned to different habitats--absorbing light at different wavelengths in accordance with light available in the environment. Together, our data suggest that proteorhodopsin-based phototrophy is a globally significant oceanic microbial process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Bacteria / chemistry*
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Escherichia coli
  • Gene Library
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Light
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Plankton / chemistry
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Retinaldehyde / chemistry
  • Rhodopsin / analysis*
  • Rhodopsin / classification
  • Rhodopsin / genetics
  • Rhodopsins, Microbial
  • Seawater / analysis
  • Water Microbiology

Substances

  • Rhodopsins, Microbial
  • proteorhodopsin
  • Rhodopsin
  • Retinaldehyde

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF349976
  • GENBANK/AF349977
  • GENBANK/AF349978
  • GENBANK/AF349979
  • GENBANK/AF349980
  • GENBANK/AF349981
  • GENBANK/AF349982
  • GENBANK/AF349983
  • GENBANK/AF349984
  • GENBANK/AF349985
  • GENBANK/AF349986
  • GENBANK/AF349987
  • GENBANK/AF349988
  • GENBANK/AF349989
  • GENBANK/AF349990
  • GENBANK/AF349991
  • GENBANK/AF349992
  • GENBANK/AF349993
  • GENBANK/AF349994
  • GENBANK/AF349995
  • GENBANK/AF349996
  • GENBANK/AF349997
  • GENBANK/AF349998
  • GENBANK/AF349999
  • GENBANK/AF350000
  • GENBANK/AF350001
  • GENBANK/AF350002
  • GENBANK/AF350003