Multiscale conformational dynamics probed by time-resolved circular dichroism from seconds to picoseconds

Area of Science:

• Biophysical Chemistry
• Molecular Spectroscopy
• Protein Dynamics

Background:

• Time-resolved circular dichroism (TRCD) is a powerful technique for observing ultrafast molecular transformations.
• Investigating conformational changes in biomolecules requires methods with high temporal resolution.
• Previous TRCD studies have explored various molecular systems and processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an overview of global advancements in time-resolved circular dichroism.
• To showcase novel experimental setups developed for TRCD.
• To demonstrate the application of TRCD across a wide range of timescales, from picoseconds to seconds.

Main Methods:

• Development of advanced experimental setups for time-resolved circular dichroism.
• Application of TRCD to study local phenomena in molecular systems.
• Utilizing TRCD to investigate slow conformational changes in proteins and DNA folding.

Main Results:

• TRCD instrumentation has evolved significantly over decades.
• Novel experimental designs allow for pico-nanosecond to second-scale investigations.
• Emblematic experiments highlight the versatility of TRCD in studying molecular dynamics.

Conclusions:

• TRCD is a versatile spectroscopic tool for molecular dynamics.
• Our developed methodologies extend the accessible timescale for TRCD studies.
• TRCD provides insights into both rapid local events and slow biomolecular processes like folding.