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Biophysics

Enzymes surf the heat wave

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Molecular diffusion of some enzymes is enhanced when they catalyse reactions, but the reason for this was obscure. Dissipation of heat generated by catalysis through the protein is now thought to propel the molecules. See Letter p.227

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Figure 1: The chemoacoustic model of anomalous enzyme diffusion.

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Correspondence to A. Joshua Wand.

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Wand, A. Enzymes surf the heat wave. Nature 517, 149–150 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14079

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