Reversible and irreversible bleaching of rhodopsin in detergent solutions.

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Abstract
The reversibility of rhodopsin bleaching in solution depends on the detergent used to solubilize the pigment. In digitonin solution the presence of 1 M. NaCl retarded the bleaching of rhodopsin (probably through the stabilization of metarhodopsin n), which made it possible to observe photoreversal of bleaching during steady illumination at room temperature. However, in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) (also 1 M in NaCl) the intermediates of bleaching decayed much more rapidly, and no regeneration was observed either during or after illumination. Since CTAB quantitatively solubilizes rhodopsin and prevents regeneration in solution, it may be useful as a solubilizing agent in studies of pigment content and regeneration in the retina.

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