Potential applications of bacteriorhodopsin mutants.

Bacteriorhodopsin (BR), a model system in biotechnology, is a G-protein dependent trans membrane protein which serves as a light driven proton pump in the cell membrane of Halobacterium salinarum. Due to the linkage of retinal to the protein, it seems colored and has numbers of versatile properties. As in vitro culture of the Halobacteria is very difficult, and isolation is time consuming and usually inefficient, production of genetically modified constructs of the protein is essential. There are three important characteristics based on protein catalytic cycle and molecular functions of photo-electric, photochromic and proton transporting, which makes this protein as a strategic molecule with potential applications in biotechnology. Such applications include protein films, used in artificial retinal implants, light modulators, three-dimensional optical memories, color photochromic sensors, photochromic and electrochromic papers and ink, biological camouflage and photo detectors for biodefense and non-defense purposes.