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PMID: 11459054 Published · ppublish English Journal Article 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.

Proteorhodopsin phototrophy in the ocean.

Nature ·Vol. 411 ·No. 6839 ·2001-06-14 ·Pages 786-9

Béjà O, Spudich EN, Spudich JL, Leclerc M, DeLong EF

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.

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,classification,genetics Rhodopsins, Microbial Seawater/analysis Water Microbiology

Chemicals

Rhodopsins, Microbial proteorhodopsin Rhodopsin Retinaldehyde

Authors & Affiliations

5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID

Béjà O

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California 95039, USA.

Spudich E N

Spudich J L

Leclerc M

DeLong E F

Article Info

Journal

Nature

Abbr.

Nature

ISSN

0028-0836

DOI

10.1038/35081051

Published

2001-06-14

Pages

786-9

Language

English

Region

England

NLM ID

0410462

Subset

Databases

GENBANK

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

External Links

PubMed source DOI: 10.1038/35081051 View journal details

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Proteorhodopsin phototrophy in the ocean.

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