Many publications in "biomolecular neutron scattering" deduce structural motions of proteins
from the narrow elastic part of the spectrum near zero frequency, instead of studying the full energy window.
Moreover, some of these publications focus on the narrow range near zero momentum exchange
to derive mean square displacements, assuming the Gaussian approximation. Such a restricted approach produces
fast results due to a high elastic intensity, which is deceptively simple to analyse in analogy to low angle scattering,
but facilitates questionable interpretations. A critical analysis of this approach was given in Doster et al. JCP 2013, ref.

To supress such critizism, a powerful citation cartel was established around 2001 by H. Frauenfelder and J. Zaccai,
which is still active. I was told, that my work will no longer be cited, which is well documented in the literature.
This applies to the "inner circle", according to Research Gate I still got 4700 citations.
The suppression of critical voices led to a flood of HF "supported" publications and a dramatic decline
in scientific quality: Biomolecular neutron scattering was shaped to advertise energy landscapes and motional heterogeneity.
In his most recent PNAS papers Frauenfelder even launched an attack on basic Van Hove scattering theory to promote his model.
Below I present critical comments to selected publications with obvious scientific errors:
The fairy tale, that the "protein dynamical transition" reflects a change in the protein force constants
and resilence even recieved a neutron prize in 2013.
I emphasize, that this web site reflects my personal view, which could be wrong, unjust or incomplete. It ignores the 'numerous'
regular, high quality papers in the field. In my view, the combination of Smith dynamical heterogeneity, Zaccai force constants
and Frauenfelder energy landscapes stand in the way of a molecular understandig of protein dynamics based on neutron scattering
and simulation. It is not the errors that strike me, it is their persistence.

Comments to: wdoster@bioneutron.de



2018: Are proteins dynamically heterogeneous? Neutron scattering analysis of hydrogen displacement distributions
peer reviewed research article by Wolfgang Doster, Int. Journ. Mol. and Math. Physics, Vol. 2 (1) 1-14 (2018).
open access

2017: The role of momentum transfer during incoherent neutron scattering is explained by the energy landscape model
by H. Frauenfelder, R.D. Young, P.W. Fenimore PNAS vol 114, 5130(2017).
Doster Comment: the Frauenfelder zero Q elastic scattering effect reflects multiple scattering
and not the energy landscape

2015: Motional Displacement in Proteins, origin of wavevector-dependent values by D. Vural, L. Hong, J. Smith, H. R. Glyde, Phys.Rev. E. 91 052705(2015).
A more recent version was published by the same authors in Biophys. J. 114, 2397, 2018,
Determination of dynamical heterogeneity of proteins from dynamic neutron scattering
Comment Doster


2015: Influence of Pressure and Crowding on the Subnanosecond Dynamics of Globular Proteins, by M. Erlkamp, J. Marion, N. Martinez, C. Czeslik, J. Peters and R. Winter J. Phys. Chem B 119 4842(2015). Comment Doster


2014: Wave mechanical model of incoherent quasielastic neutron scattering in complex systems
by Hans Frauenfelder, Paul Fenimore and Robert Young, PNAS , 111, 12764 (2014).

Wuttke: No case against scattering theory, PNAS Letter
Doster Comment


2014: Does a dry protein undergo a glass transition by A. Frontzek, S. Strokov, ,J. Embs and S. Lushnikov, J. Phys. Chem B 118(11) 2791-2802(2014). Comment
(The Freeze Drying Glass Transition in Dry Proteins)

2013: Dynamics and Free Energy Landscape of Proteins, explored with the Mössbauer effect and quasi-elastic neutron scattering by Frauenfelder, Young and Fenimore, J. Phys. Chem. 117 13301 (2013)
(The Mössbauer Model of Quasi-elastic Neutron Scattering) Comment Doster


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2012/2013: Change of caged dynamics of hydrated proteins by Capaccioli, Ngai, Ancherbak, Paciaroni, J. Chem.Phys. 138 (2013) 235102. Comment Two step scenario of the protein dynamical transition


Evidence of coexistence of change of caged dynamics.. by Capaccioli, Ngai, Paciaroni, J.Phys. Chem. B 116 (2012) 1745. Comment rejected by Editor of JPCB

2011: The RENS puzzle

Elastic incoherent neutron scattering operating by varying instrumental energy resolution: Principle, simulations, and experiments of the resolution elastic neutron scattering (RENS) S. Magazu, F. Migliardo, A. Benedetto Review of Scientific Instruments 82 (10), 105115 (2011)
nearly identical: Magazu, Migliardo, Benedetto, Vertessy in Chemical Physics 424(2013)26: Protein dynamics and neutron scattering.. Comment

Protein dynamical transition at 110 K, by C. Kim, M. Tate and S. Gruner PNAS 108, 20897 (2011) Comment

2011: The Frauenfelder Mössbauer effect and the PDT
Mössbauer effect in proteins, Young, Frauenfelder, Fenimore, PRL(2011)107, 158102 Comment

2008: Elliptical protein phase diagrams
Pressure and temperature dependent protein stability by Widersich, Skerra, Köhler, Friedrich, PNAS 105, 575 (2008) Comment

2006: Instrumental resolution effects interpreted as a fragile-strong crossover
Observation of fragile to strong dynamic cross-over of protein hydration water by S.H. Chen, L.Liu, E. Fratini, P. Bagliaoni, A. Faraone and E. Mamontov, PNAS USA 103, 9012 (2006) Comment

2004: Frauenfelders alpha/beta relaxation
Bulk solvent and hydration shell fluctuations by Fenimore, Frauenfelder, Mc Mahon, Young PNAS USA (2004)101,14408 Comment

2003: Neutron Hydrogen Displacement Distribution in Myoglobin
Hydrogen atoms in proteins, Engler, Ostermann, Nijmura, Parak, PNAS USA (2003)100,10243 Comment

2002: Slaving II
Solvent fluctuations dominate protein dynamics and function by Fenimore, Frauenfelder, Mc Mahon, Parak, PNAS USA (2002)99,16047 Comment

2002: Confined water and the two simple explanation
A model for water motion in crystals of lysozyme based on an incoherent quasi-elastic neutron scattering study by C.Bon, A.J. Dianoux, M. Ferrand and M.S. Lehmann, Biophys. J. 83( 2002) 1578 Comment

The protein dynamical transition may have a simple explanantion
by M. R. Daniel, J. Finney and J. Smith, Faraday Discussion (2002) 122,163 Comment

2000: Protein force constants from elastic displacements?
How soft is a protein? A protein dynamics force constant measured by neutron scattering by J. Zaccai, Science 288,1604( 2000) Comment

1998: Dynamic labelling of different functional parts of BR
by V. Reat, H. Patzelt, M. Ferrand, C. Pfister, D. Oesterhelt, G. Zaccai PNAS 95(1998)4970 Comment
1998: Activity below the transition?
Enzyme Activity below the Protein Dynamical Transition at 220K by R. Daniel, J.Smith, M. Ferrand, S. Hery, R. Dunn, J. Finney, Biophys. J. 75 (1998) 2504 Comment

1993: Melting of a frozen protein solution
Thermal motion and function of bacteriorhodopsin in purple membrane, effect of temperature and hydration observed by neutron scattering by M. Ferrand, A. Dianoux, W. Petry an G. Zaccai, PNAS 90, 9668 (1993)communicated by Hans Frauenfelder. Comment


1992: Confined water (I):
Single particle dynamics of hydration water in protein, M.C. Bellissent-Funel, J. Teixera, J.F. Bradley, S.H. Chen and L. Crespi, Physica B 181 &181, 740 (1992). Comment

1991: Review Article on MD Simulation and Experiments
Protein Dynamics: comparison of simulations with inelastic neutron scattering experiments, by J. Smith, Quat. Rev. Biophys.24 (1991), 227 Comment
1991: Frauenfelders Energy Landscape
The energy landscapes and motions in proteins, H. Frauenfelder, S. Sligar and P. Wolynes, Science 254 (1991) 1598 Comment

1990: Vacuum simulation of a hydrated protein
Dynamics of myoglobin: comparison of simulation results with neutron scattering spectra, by J. Smith, K. Kuczera and M. Karplus, PNAS USA (1990)87, 1601. Comment

The temperature dependence of dynamics of hydrated myoglobin, comparison of force field calculations with neutron scattering data by R. Loncharich and B. Brooks, J. Mol. Biol. (1990)215, 439,

1989: first spectral analysis of protein dynamics:
Dynamical transition of myoglobin revealed by inelastic neutron scattering, W. Doster, W. Petry and S. Cusack, Nature 337,754(1989) Comment

Internal dynamics of globular proteins, comparison of neutron scattering measurements and theoretical models by J. Smith, K. Kuczera, B. Tidor, W. Doster, S.Cusack and M. Karplus, Physica B(1989) 156, 437. Comment

1982: Ligand Binding to Hexokinase
Inelastic neutron scattering analysis of hexokinase dynamics and its modification on binding of glucose by B. Jacrot, S. Cusack, A. Dianoux and D. Engelman, Nature 300 (1982)84
Comment

1980/1996: spurious oscillations of hydration water jump rate
Molecular dynamics of hydrated proteins, H. Middendorf, J. Randall and A. J. Leadbetter, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond.B. (1980) 290, 639. and Middendorf, Phys. B. 226, 113 (1996) Comment

last changes: Sept. 5th, 2018

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