Neutron Scattering Studies of Protein Dynamics and Their Associated Quantum Effects in Biological Systems

by Prof. Xiang-qiang Chu (City University of Hong Kong)

Monday 6 Jul 2026, 14:30 → 15:30 Europe/Berlin

PH HS 3 (Physics Department)

The roles of quantum effects in biological functions have long captivated biophysicists. Meanwhile, proteins execute intricate spatiotemporal motions that are widely believed to govern their biological function and activities, yet the potential quantum mechanical underpinnings of these dynamics remain poorly understood. Quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) provides uniquely powerful tools for studying the dynamics of proteins in the time range of picoseconds to nanoseconds at the molecular level. This talk will present our recent work on diverse biological systems studied by QENS and other neutron techniques, including inelastic neutron scattering (INS), small angle neutron scattering (SANS), and neutron spin echo (NSE). We will further discuss how these techniques can be leveraged to reveal the quantum mechanical phenomena, such as tunneling effect in the dynamics of proteins, and to establish their connections to protein activities or biological functions.