User talk:Maria.mendizabal/sandbox

Bacteriorhodopsin

The article on bacteriorhodopsin contains two sections, one highlights the structure of bacteriorhodopsin and the other its function. The section on the its function is much more elaborated and sourced, with relevant diagrams and a good overview on the role of bacteriorhodopsins including its role as a light-driven proton pump in Archea, as well as a detailed examination of its performance at different wavelengths and chemiosmotic coupling. Although the article briefly mentions homology to the vertebrate rhodopsin found in retinal cells, it would be interesting to see the evolutionary connection between these two, if any. Since there is no current evolutionary tracking that goes this far, one good addition to the article would therefore be a phylogenetic tree that tracks this protein across different species within the Archea domain. They briefly mention that Archea and Bacteria evolved phototrophy independently but this should also be expanded upon. The article could also improve by mentioning its relevance to current research since rhodopsins are a subject of ongoing research due to their many practical applications. I would expand upon the topic by highlighting its potential as a research tool since bacteriorhodopsins can harness the energy of light to move different cations and anions. (Halorhodopsins, for example move chloride ions, as well as other halides). By using a similar approach with anions, this could allow for significantly reducing metabolic energy by achieving osmotic balance in a cell. Thus, this protein has tremendous potential for practical applications and it is the reason why ongoing research is being devoted seeking for more homologs of the molecule. It is also the reason why rhodopsins are one of the first membrane molecules whose entire crystal structure was characterized by crystallography. I would also add one current application in the field of medicine which is that the halorhodopsin is used in optogenetics to hyperpolarize specific neurons.

Citations: Gradinaru, V., Thompson, K. R., & Deisseroth, K. (2008). eNpHR: a Natronomonas halorhodopsin enhanced for optogenetic applications. Brain Cell Biology, 36(1-4), 129–139. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11068-008-9027-6

NIH. (2005). Halorhodopsins. Retrieved September 25, 2017 from: https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?name=Halorhodopsin

OPM. (2013). Bacteriorhodopsin Orientation in membrane. Retrieved September 25, 2017 from: https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?name=Halorhodopsinhttp://opm.phar.umich.edu/contact.php

Maria.mendizabal (talk) 05:51, 26 September 2017 (UTC)

Peer Review
Your edit to the Bacteriorhodopsin article focuses on the potential practical applications of rhodopsins. I believe this is a well chosen topic that deserves to be added to the article as it is relevant to the article topic and of interest for the reader. Having said that, your edit needs a few improvements to fully reach its potential. The placing of the edit is appropriate as it makes sense to add this information after the explanation of what bacteriorhopsin is and its function. I would, however, encourage you to create a new subheading stating something along these lines: ‘bacteriorhodopsin research and applications’. In this way you make it clear that your edit differs in purpose from the subheading ‘bacteriorhodopsin is a proton driven pump’ under which it now is located. Looking at the content of the article, you touched on a few (potential) application but your piece fails to elaborate on them. This is something to improve on. For example, you could elaborate on WHY harnessing the energy of light to move different cations and anions is an important research tool or what the use is of hyperpolarizing specific neurons in optogentics. Remember to stay unbiased, which your edit as it stands now is, which is good. The references you state are from reliable sources, but you need to work on correctly citing them. When I click on the two links provided I am forwarded to a generic page of the NIH. This page does not contain the information you are referring to in your article, therefore make sure your links are appropriate and link to the right content. Your other source Gradinaru et al seems appropriate and up to date, but it does not require a hyperlink at the end (following APA rules). Regarding your writing style, I would recommend you using some linking sentences which can improve the flow of your article especially your last statements seems to be unlinked to the rest of the edit. Try to introduce it with a sentence such as: ‘an example of ongoing research’. Apart from this, your writing is concise and is written from a neutral point of view.

Thomas Dalhuisen (talk) 04:07, 7 November 2017 (UTC)