The photocycle of the retinal protein from Exiguo bacterium sibiricum, which differs from bacteriorhodopsin in both its primary donor and acceptor, is characterized by visible and infrared spectroscopy. At pH above pK(a) similar to 6.5, we find a bacteriorhodopsin-like photocycle, which originates from excitation of the all-trans retinal chromophore with K-, L-, M-, and N-like intermediates. At pH below pK(a) similar to 6.5, the M state, which reflects Schiff base deprotonation during proton pumping, is not accumulated. However, using the infrared band at similar to 1760 cm(-1) as a marker for transient protonation of the primary acceptor, we find that Schiff base deprotonation must have occurred at pH not only above but also below the pK(a) similar to 6.5. Thus, the M state is formed but not accumulated for kinetic reasons. Further, chromophore reisomerization from the 13-cis to the all-trans conformation occurs very late in the photocycle. The strongly red-shifted states that dominate the second half of the cycle are produced before the reisomerization step, and by this criterion, they are not O-like but rather N-like states. The assignment of photocycle intermediates enables reevaluation of the photocycle; its specific features are discussed in relation to the general mechanism of proton transport in retinal proteins.