A novel laser-pump neutron-probe experiment for the study of time-resolved protein dynamics

Goal

measure the time-evolution of protein dynamics in a working protein at physiological conditions

Setup

laser excitation of bacteriorhodopsin, QENS measurement on NEAT

Result

enhanced quasielastic scattering indicating a softening of the protein during its large scale structural changes

First real-time measurement

on the modulations of protein dynamics

Read more

Pieper J, Buchsteiner A, Dencher NA, Lechner RE, Hauß T: Transient protein softening during the working cycle of a molecular machine.Physical Review Letters 2008, 100:228103

Pieper J, Buchsteiner A, Dencher NA, Lechner RE, Hauß T: Light-induced modulation of protein dynamics during the photocycle of bacteriorhodopsin.PhotochemPhotobiol 2009, 85(2):590-597

 

left: Bacteriorhodopsin, ground-state (purple), M-intermediate (yellow)