Possible role of the 11- cis -retinyl conformation in controlling the dual decay processes of excited rhodopsin

In this work, we examine how the reported dual decay processes of rhodopsin and binding site stereospecificity can be accounted for by the recently available crystal structure of rhodopsin. Arguments are presented for possible presence of two rhodopsin “rotamers” that fit within the binding cavity. Directed pathways of decay could account for the observed excited decay processes. We summarize evidence for the possible existence of two different ground-state configurations that give rise to two different excited species.