Ultrafast Carotenoid to Retinal Energy Transfer in Xanthorhodopsin Revealed by the Combination of Transient Absorption and Two-Dimensional Electronic Spectroscopy

By comparing two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) and Pump-Probe (PP) measurements on xanthorhodopsin (XR) and reduced-xanthorhodopsin (RXR) complexes, the ultrafast carotenoid-to-retinal energy transfer pathway is revealed, at very early times, by an excess of signal amplitude at the associated cross-peak and by the carotenoid bleaching reduction due to its ground state recovery. The combination of the measured 2DES and PP spectroscopic data with theoretical modelling allows a clear identification of the main experimental signals and a comprehensive interpretation of their origin and dynamics. The remarkable velocity of the energy transfer, despite the non-negligible energy separation between the two chromophores, and the analysis of the underlying transport mechanism, highlight the role played by the ground state carotenoid vibrations in assisting the process.