Large scale preparation of homogeneous bacteriorhodopsin

Abstract

Homogeneous bacteriorhodopsin was obtained preparatively (100 mg batches) from purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium cells. The homogeneity of the protein was considerably affected by variations in the growth conditions of the bacteria. Fully maturated bacteriorhodopsin having a blocked N-terminus and a homogeneous C-terminus, was reproducibly obtained when cells were grown in a sufficiently aerated medium.