Resonant Coupling Between Electromagnetic Waves and Protein Conformational Dynamics Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Chen, Jiafei, Feng, Yuanyuan, Feng, Jingzhi, Zhang, Xinyun, Zhu, Jinzhen, Xu, Qingmeng
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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_version_ 1866912861176987648
author Chen, Jiafei
Feng, Yuanyuan
Feng, Jingzhi
Zhang, Xinyun
Zhu, Jinzhen
Xu, Qingmeng
author_facet Chen, Jiafei
Feng, Yuanyuan
Feng, Jingzhi
Zhang, Xinyun
Zhu, Jinzhen
Xu, Qingmeng
contents The biological effects of electromagnetic fields on proteins remain controversial beyond well-established thermal mechanisms, particularly with respect to frequency-dependent responses. Here, we propose that electromagnetic waves can modulate protein conformation through resonant coupling with intrinsic protein dynamics. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to characterize spontaneous conformational fluctuations in the absence of external fields, and a tiered screening strategy combined with fast Fourier transform analysis was used to identify dominant intrinsic frequencies associated with periodically fluctuating non-covalent atom or residue pairs. Oscillating external electric fields were subsequently applied at resonant and off-resonant frequencies to evaluate conformational responses across diverse protein systems. The results demonstrate that resonant excitation induces significantly enhanced backbone conformational deviations compared to off-resonant conditions, with the effect becoming more pronounced in structurally flexible and multichain proteins. These findings provide atomistic evidence for frequency-specific resonance between electromagnetic fields and protein conformational dynamics, offering mechanistic insight into frequency-dependent electromagnetic effects and a computational framework for electromagnetic wave-based modulation of protein function.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_22180
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Resonant Coupling Between Electromagnetic Waves and Protein Conformational Dynamics Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Chen, Jiafei
Feng, Yuanyuan
Feng, Jingzhi
Zhang, Xinyun
Zhu, Jinzhen
Xu, Qingmeng
Chemical Physics
The biological effects of electromagnetic fields on proteins remain controversial beyond well-established thermal mechanisms, particularly with respect to frequency-dependent responses. Here, we propose that electromagnetic waves can modulate protein conformation through resonant coupling with intrinsic protein dynamics. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to characterize spontaneous conformational fluctuations in the absence of external fields, and a tiered screening strategy combined with fast Fourier transform analysis was used to identify dominant intrinsic frequencies associated with periodically fluctuating non-covalent atom or residue pairs. Oscillating external electric fields were subsequently applied at resonant and off-resonant frequencies to evaluate conformational responses across diverse protein systems. The results demonstrate that resonant excitation induces significantly enhanced backbone conformational deviations compared to off-resonant conditions, with the effect becoming more pronounced in structurally flexible and multichain proteins. These findings provide atomistic evidence for frequency-specific resonance between electromagnetic fields and protein conformational dynamics, offering mechanistic insight into frequency-dependent electromagnetic effects and a computational framework for electromagnetic wave-based modulation of protein function.
title Resonant Coupling Between Electromagnetic Waves and Protein Conformational Dynamics Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations
topic Chemical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.22180