In order to elucidate the old, still unsolved problem of how the diffuse electric double layer responds to an abrupt, intramolecular charge displacement inside a biological membrane, we investigated the fastest components of the light-induced electric signals of bacteriorhodopsin and its mutants, in numerous ionic and buffer solutions. The obtained data for temperature and solute concentration dependence were interpreted as a consequence of changes in the capacity of the diffuse double layer surrounding the purple membrane. The possible physiological consequences of this so far not demonstrated phenomenon are discussed.

中文翻译：

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扩散双层对生物膜内突然电荷位移的非线性电响应

为了阐明扩散双电层如何响应生物膜内突然的分子内电荷位移这一古老的仍未解决的问题，我们研究了细菌视紫红质及其突变体的光诱导电信号的最快成分，在许多离子和缓冲溶液。获得的温度和溶质浓度依赖性数据被解释为紫色膜周围的扩散双层容量变化的结果。讨论了这种迄今为止尚未证实的现象的可能生理后果。