Abstract:
Rates of hydrolysis of a model retinylidene Schiff base chromophore, namely all-trans-N-retinylidene-beta-naphthylamine (1), have been determined in tetrahydrofuran, CHCl3, and CH3CN, in the presence and absence of metal cations (Li+, Mg2+) and trichloroacetic acid as the protonating agent. A mechanism for the hydrolysis of the Schiff base chromophore in visual pigments and a representation of the role of metal ions in maintaining the structure functions of bacteriorhodopsin have been proposed.