Lipid-protein interaction in the photolysis of octopus rhodopsin.

Microvillar membranes of octopus photoreceptor cells were treated with phospholipase A2, phospholipase C, hexane, or their combinations. By these means, various membrane preparations containing qualitatively and quantitatively different lipids were obtained. The lipid composition and phospholipid content of the membrane preparations obtained by the above methods were determined. Photochemical processes in the digitonin extract of the native and treated membranes have been studied by flash photometry. The results suggest that several different variations in the lipids can affect the rates of the photochemical transformations; these are: the content of phospholipid, the amount of unsaturated hydrocarbon chains and free fatty acids.