Neutron scattering: a tool to detect in vivo thermal stress effects at the molecular dynamics level in micro-organisms.

In vivo molecular dynamics in Halobacterium salinarum cells under stress conditions was measured by neutron scattering experiments coupled with microbiological characterization. Molecular dynamics alterations were detected with respect to unstressed cells, reflecting a softening of protein structures consistent with denaturation. The experiments indicated that the neutron scattering method provides a promising tool to study molecular dynamics modifications in the proteome of living cells induced by factors altering protein folds.