Interaction of tryptophan-182 with the retinal 9-methyl group in the L intermediate of bacteriorhodopsin.

An intense indole N-H stretching vibrational band at 3486 cm-1 in the difference Fourier transform infrared spectrum is one of the characteristic features of the L intermediate of bacteriorhodopsin [Maeda, Sasaki, Ohkita, Simpson, & Herzfeld (1992) Biochemistry 31, 12543]. This band is now assigned to tryptophan-182. The Trp182-->Phe (W182F) protein shows specific features in the difference spectrum in the visible region upon L formation, and exhibits great delay in the L-M conversion. Fourier transform infrared difference spectra further indicate that while the intensity of the C-methyl in-plane bending vibration at 1009 cm-1 is lost in the L intermediate of the wild type, its intensity remains high in the W182F protein. The intensity of the N-H stretching vibration upon L formation is diminished considerably in an artificial bacteriorhodopsin containing 9-desmethylretinal. It also exhibits delayed M formation. These results suggest that Trp182 interacts with the retinal side chain through the 9-methyl group, and thereby affects the L-to-M conversion.