A time-resolved step-scan FTIR spectrometer with a time resolution of 20 ns was developed and used to investigate the KL to L transition in the photocycle of bacteriorhodopsin in the time range from -60 to 940 ns. Broadband FTIR absorbance difference spectra With a spectral range of 850-2050 cm(-1) and a spectral resolution of 4 cm(-1) have been obtained. Our data show that there are two sets of BR photoproduct difference bands exhibiting different kinetics. The intensity changes of bands attributed to structural changes of the carboxyl groups Asp-96 and Asp-115 as well as of bands assigned to C=C and C-C stretching modes of the chromophore show single exponential behavior with a time constant of about 400 ns, implying that these two processes are coupled. The time-dependent intensity changes of bands attributed to structural changes of the chromophore region near the Schiff base exhibit slower kinetics with a time constant of about 2 mu s We interpret our data in terms of a process during the KL to L transition where structural changes of the beta-ionone ring end of the chromophore and of Asp-115 occur faster than changes at the Schiff base region of the chromophore. Under our physiologic al sample conditions, a perturbation of Asp-115 occurs in the first 20 ns in contrast to results from hydrated films where this process is blocked or occurs more slowly. This fast protein response indicates that there is direct coupling between the carboxylic acid residues and the chromophore. Comparison of our data with low-temperature and microsecond time-resolved infrared spectra of the L intermediate in hydrated films of BR indicates that a different L structure is produced when the water activity is low.