Microwave enhanced kinetics observed in ORD studies of a protein

Microwaves are shown to affect the kinetics of conformational changes of th e protein beta-lactoglobulin. Microwaves can accelerate conformational chan ges in the direction towards the equilibrium state. This applies both for t he folding and the unfolding processes. Cold denaturing thermal unfolding o f the proteins is accelerated by negative temperature gradients. Microwave irradiation of the protein solution heated it by about 0.3 degree, and henc e the observed acceleration of denaturing is therefore non-thermal. (C) 200 0 Wiley-Liss, Inc.