Universality and structural implications of the Boson peak in proteins (Biophysical Journal)

Softness and rigidity of proteins are reflected in the structural dynamics, which are in turn affected by the environment. The characteristic low-frequency vibrational spectrum of a protein, known as Boson peak, is an indication of the structural rigidity of the protein at cryogenic temperature or dehydrated conditions. In this paper, the effect of hydration, temperature, and pressure on the Boson peak and volumetric properties of a globular protein are evaluated by using inelastic neutron scattering and molecular dynamics simulation.