Instrumental resolution effects in neutron scattering studies of protein dynamics

In this study, the dynamics of Green Fluorescent protein (GFP) are analyzed using three neutron scattering spectrometers. We focus on the effect of instrumental energy resolution in the analysis of the elastic incoherent structure factor (EISF) and mean square displacement (MSD). This topic still remains a source of controversy. Our data clearly demonstrate the presence of the resolution effect in the dynamic transition for hydrated protein and the onset of translational motions in hydration water consistent with previous results from quasielastic neutron scattering. The 190 K onset of motions in hydration water observed at similar to 1 ns is also consistent with a T-g of hydration water below 190 K. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.