How Did Bacteriorhodopsin Help Us Understand Membrane Protein Structure?

💡 The Answer

• Bacteriorhodopsin was the first membrane protein with its atomic structure solved by electron microscopy.
• It contains seven transmembrane helices and functions as a light-driven proton pump.
• Its structure revealed the alpha-helical bundle topology common to GPCRs.
• The protein uses retinal chromophore to capture light energy.
• This discovery earned Henderson and Unwin the Nobel Prize.