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Monolayer Films of Retinal1 and the Effects of Light on Them

Abstract

SEVERAL stereoisomers of retinal1 (vitamin A1 aldehyde) are known and their interconversions can easily be promoted by the action of light1. The photoconversion of 11-cis to all-trans retinal1 takes place with the highest efficiency2,3 and is involved in the first step of the visual process4. Studies of vitamin A and its derivatives have suggested that their surface-active properties are closely related to their physiological functions5,6. The purpose of the present investigation was to study the properties of monolayer films of all-trans and 11-cis retinal1 at air–water interfaces, and to determine the effect of light on the films.

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MAEDA, Y., ISEMURA, T. Monolayer Films of Retinal1 and the Effects of Light on Them. Nature 215, 765–766 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/215765a0

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