We present a Car-Parrinello nb-initio molecular dynamics study of rhod
opsin, the membrane protein responsible for the first step in vision.
The ground state structures of the retinylidene chromophores of rhodop
sin and of its primary photoproduct, bathorhodopsin, have been calcula
ted with a simulated annealing procedure. In bathorhodopsin, the energ
y is primarily stored in distortions of the conjugated backbone of the
chromophore, which presents a highly strained all-trans configuration
. The roles of steric and electrostatic chromophore-protein interactio
ns in the energy storage mechanism are discussed. An analysis of the H
OMO and LUMO charge distributions in rhodopsin and bathorhodopsin has
been performed.