A time-dependent multistate model for bacteriorhodopsin photocycle

Abstract

A time-dependent theoretical model based on the rate equations for all the photochemical states of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) is developed. A recursive method is adopted to solve the rate equations exactly, with an explicit temporal and intensity dependence of the population densities. Simulated results for a thin wild type bR film show that each intermediate state has a optimum population that depends uniquely on incident intensity and time. The model provides an analytical framework for optimization of bR for various electronics and photonic applications.