Laser-assisted deposition of bacteriorhodhopsin assemblies

Abstract

Supramolecular assemblies of bacteriorhodhopsin (bR) have been formed by incorporating bR in a matrix of L--phosphatidylcholine distearoyl (DSPC) molecules. The preformed assemblies have been physically lifted and deposited onto solid substrates by the laser-assisted deposition (LAD) technique. The bR assemblies thus deposited have been characterized using a variety of techniques like absorption studies, optical microscopy and x-ray diffraction. The structural and functional properties of the bR assemblies are found to be preserved after LAD.