PHOTO-OSMOSIS THROUGH LIQUID MEMBRANE BILAYERS - STUDIES ON MIXTURE OF BACTERIORHODOPSIN WITH CYTOCHROME-C, MYOGLOBIN, OR HEMOGLOBIN

The effect of cytochrome-C, hemoglobin, and myoglobin on photo-osmosis through liquid membrane bilayers generated by bacteriorhodopsin (BR) has been studied. The magnitude of photo-osmotic velocity was found to be much greater when BR was combined with any one of the three pigmen ts than that of BR alone. This has been because of the exclusion of pr otons and electrons in the illuminated compartment by the action of li ght, where one acts as the acceptor for the others. The rate of light- induced volume flux of the combined system depends on temperature, int ensity, and wavelength of incident light, and the nature and concentra tion of electron donors and accepters.