What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to investigate the mechanisms behind the reverse photoisomerization in bacteriophytochrome.

January 14, 2026The Journal of Physical Chemistry B0 citations

Mechanism of Reverse Photoconversion in Canonical Bacteriophytochrome

PDPradipta DeyIndian Association for the Cultivation of Science SGSamidh GhoshIndian Association for the Cultivation of Science DGDebashree GhoshIndian Association for the Cultivation of Science

Key Points

The aim is to investigate the mechanisms behind the reverse photoisomerization in bacteriophytochrome.
Studied the isomerization process of bacteriophytochrome under varying conditions
Analyzed two distinct pathways for reverse photoisomerization
Compared the preferred pathway with the forward direction based on energy criteria
Identified two pathways for the reverse photoisomerization process
Determined one pathway as preferred based on energetic evaluations
Highlighted the significant role of electrostatic interactions in influencing the preferred pathway

Abstract

The isomerization of the chromophore is a central photoactivated process in the functioning of a class of proteins called the bacteriophytochrome. This isomerization is affected by the protein environment and leads to the specific activity of the proteins. We have studied the reverse direction (conversion of the far-red light absorbing form to the red light absorbing form) of the photoisomerization process for phytochrome. Our study reveals two different pathways that may lead to this photoisomerization, and we have identified one of them as the preferred one on the basis of energy criteria. We compared this pathway with that of the forward direction of the photoisomerization. Furthermore, we explored that the electrostatic interaction of the protein environment has a pivotal role in favoring one of the pathways for this photoconversion.

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