bacteriorhodopsin

[ bak-teer-ee-oh-roh-dop-sin ]
/ bækˌtɪər i oʊ roʊˈdɒp sɪn /

noun Biochemistry.

a protein complex in the membrane of halobacteria that conducts a unique form of photosynthesis, employing the light-sensitive pigment retinal rather than the chlorophyll used by all other known photosynthetic organisms.

Origin of bacteriorhodopsin

First recorded in 1975–80; bacterio- + rhodopsin