PHOTOLYTIC LIPIDS FROM VISUAL PIGMENTS

Abstract

A method is described for the preservation of iodopsin, the labile photopigment of daylight vision, by freeze drying in vacuo. The lipids released by the action of light on rhodopsin and iodopsin are found to be similar and to possess a labile absorption spectrum in chloroform, with a rising peak at about 390 mµ and a declining peak in the region of 470 mµ. After the change is complete the absorption spectrum resembles closely that of retinene.