Protein Conformational Dynamics

Protein conformational dynamics describes the continual structural fluctuations that proteins undergo as they sample multiple shapes rather than existing as rigid molecules. These motions arise from thermal energy and interactions among amino acid side chains, the solvent, ligands, and other biomolecules, allowing local rearrangements to propagate through a protein and regulate binding or catalytic activity. In biochemistry, methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, hydrogen-deuterium exchange, and molecular dynamics simulations help characterize these transitions across different timescales. Understanding conformational dynamics clarifies allostery, enzyme mechanisms, molecular recognition, and disease-associated misfolding, supporting rational drug design and the engineering of proteins with tailored functions.

Protein Conformational Dynamics - Related Videos

Research

JoVE Journal - Biology
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Examining the Conformational Dynamics of Membrane Proteins in situ with Site-directed Fluorescence Labeling

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Cited by 11 •

2011

We will describe a method which measures the kinetics of ion transport of membrane proteins alongside site-specific analysis of conformational changes using fluorescence on single cells. This technique is adaptable to ion channels, transporters and ion pumps and can be utilized to determine distance constraints between protein subunits.

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JoVE Journal - Engineering
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Monitoring Conformational Dynamics of Single Unmodified Proteins using Plasmonic Nanotweezers

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Cited by 4 •

2025

Plasmonic nanotweezers use localized surface plasmon resonance in gold nanostructures to trap single nanoparticles, including proteins, within a nanometer-scale optical field. Changes in the scattered signal reveal protein presence and conformational dynamics, enabling monitoring without fluorophore modifications or surface tethering.

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JoVE Journal - Engineering
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Proton Transfer and Protein Conformation Dynamics in Photosensitive Proteins by Time-resolved Step-scan Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy

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Cited by 21 •

2014

Key steps of protein function, in particular backbone conformational changes and proton transfer reactions, often take place in the microsecond to millisecond time scale. These dynamical processes can be studied by time-resolved step-scan Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, in particular for proteins whose function is triggered by light.

Education

JoVE Core - Social Psychology
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Conformity

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2020

Conformity is the change in a person’s behavior to go along with the group, even if that person does not agree with the group. Asch’s Original Study Solomon Asch conducted several experiments in the 1950s to determine how people are affected by the thoughts and behaviors of other people. In one study, a group of participants was shown a series of printed line segments of different lengths: a, b, and c. Participants were then shown a fourth line segment: x. They were asked to identify which...

Research

JoVE Journal - Biochemistry
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Investigating Protein Sequence-structure-dynamics Relationships with Bio3D-web

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Cited by 2 •

2017

A protocol for the online investigation of protein sequence-structure-dynamics relationships using Bio3D-web is presented.

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