Quantum Biology of Retinal
Visual Receptors
The Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group (TCBG) is pleased to announce a new book chapter on the quantum biology of retinal. Crucial characteristics of organisms are governed by quantum physics. The quantum behaviors of electrons - exemplary quantum particles - cover all chemical transformations, including optical transitions induced through light absorption by biomolecules. In vision, twelve electrons in a molecule called retinal correlate their motion during light absorption and steer the optically excited molecule to alter its shape, thereby initiating an extremely sensitive response to light. Quantum effects in retinal, a biological chromophore ubiquitous in visual receptors, are explored in this new chapter.
From the text: "Retinal is a biological chromophore ubiquitous in visual receptors of higher life forms, but serving also as an antenna in light energy transformation and phototaxis of bacteria. The chromophore arises in various retinal proteins, the best known two being the visual receptor rhodopsin and the light-driven proton pump bacteriorhodopsin. The ubiquitous nature of retinal in photobiology is most remarkable as the molecule shows an extremely wide adaptability of its spectral absorption characteristics and a precise selection of its photoproducts, both properties steered by retinal proteins . . . The photobiological mechanism of retinal has been fascinating experimental and theoretical researchers over many decades until today. In this chapter, the quantum processes involved in the photoactivation of retinal in Rh and related proteins are presented."
A PDF of the chapter is available by clicking here.