Bacteriorhodopsin is a light-driven proton pump. It is the retinal molecule that changes its isomerization state from all-trans to 13-cis when it absorbs a photon. The surrounding protein responds to the change in the chromophore shape, by undergoing an ordered sequence of conformational changes (collectively known as the photocycle). The conformational changes alter the pK values of conserved amino acids in the core of the protein, including Asp85, Asp96 and the Schiff base N atom (Lys216). These sequential changes in acid dissociation constant, result in the transfer of one proton from the intracellular side to the extracellular side of the membrane for each photon absorbed by the chromophore.
The bacteriorhodopsin photocycle consists of nine distinct stages, starting from the ground or resting state, which is denoted bR. The intermediates are identified by single letters and may be distinguished by their absorption spectra. The nine stages are:
: bR + photon → K  L  M  M  M  N  N  O  bR