Change of membrane potential is not a component of the photophobic transduction chain in Halobacterium halobium

Long (20 to 50 microns) and bipolarly flagellated cells of Halobacterium halobium were stimulated locally by a focused beam of light, and the photophobic response was analyzed. The results demonstrate that two flagellar bundles did not react in a coordinated fashion. The light-induced stop response of a flagellar bundle only occurred if the stimulus was applied within 5 microns of the polar region. This excluded membrane potential changes from being causally involved in photophobic signalling and indicated that there is a diffusible messenger in the signal transduction chain which is subjected to decay. In addition, the photoreceptor may be localized at the polar end of the cell.