Comment on “Mapping photoisomerization dynamics on a three-state model potential energy surface in bacteriorhodopsin using femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy” by Z. Wang, Y. Chen, J. Jiang, X. Zhao and W. Liu, <i>Chem. Sci.</i> , 2025, <b>16</
The article by Wang <i>et al.</i> (<i>Chem. Sci.</i>, 2025, <b>16</b>, 3713) reports an experimental study of the photo-isomerization dynamics of the all-<i>trans</i> protonated Schiff base of retinal (AT-PSBR) in bacteriorhodopsin (bR), based on femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy. In the present comment, we point out a misinterpretation of a new interesting high-frequency vibrational mode, conceptual flaws, like interpreting the data in a <i>C</i> <sub>2h</sub> symmetry framework, and most importantly the neglect of basic properties of AT-PSBR in bR, which were established over the past 30 years. The comment ends with a few suggestions on how to substantiate the new findings within a correct experimental and theoretical framework.
Authors
- Stefan Haacke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6969-4667)
- Igor Schapiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8536-6869)
- Massimo Olivucci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8247-209X)
- Karsten Heyne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3243-9160)
Institutions
- University of Siena (IT)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Bowling Green State University (US)
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL)
- TU Dortmund University (DE)
- Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (FR)
- Université de Strasbourg (FR)
- Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
- Ruhr University Bochum (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Chemical Science
- Published
- 2025-12-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d5sc05038c
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.91
Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Université de Strasbourg