⚛️ Category

biophysics

329 papers

Biophysics sits at the fascinating intersection where the laws of physics meet the complexity of living systems. This field uses tools like light, electricity, and mechanical forces to decode how cells move, how proteins fold, and how our senses translate the world around us. Rather than just observing biology, biophysicists measure and model life to understand the fundamental machinery that powers every organism.

On Gist.Science, we make these discoveries accessible by curating the latest preprints directly from bioRxiv. Our team processes every new submission in this category, providing both clear, plain-language overviews and detailed technical summaries so readers of all backgrounds can grasp the cutting-edge science. Below are the most recent biophysics papers from bioRxiv, ready for you to explore.

⚛️ biophysics

The Central Coupler of the AAA+ ATPase ClpXP Controls Intersubunit Communication and Couples the Conversion of Chemical Energy into the Generation of Force

By integrating single-molecule optical tweezers, biochemical assays, and cryo-EM, this study reveals that the central coupler in ClpX facilitates intersubunit communication by positioning key residues to trigger ATP hydrolysis in neighboring subunits, thereby coupling chemical energy into rapid force generation for efficient protein unfolding.

Sosa, R. P., Florez, A., Kim, J., Tong, A. B., Kang, Z.-h., Li, A., Kuriyan, J., Bustamante, C. J.2026-04-11
⚛️ biophysics

Structural features of E. coli Stx bacteriophage phi24B revealed with cryo-electron microscopy

This study utilizes high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy and proteomics to reveal the detailed structural architecture of the Shiga toxin-converting bacteriophage phi24B, characterizing its T=9 icosahedral capsid, complex tail assembly, and unique peripheral features that distinguish it from related podoviruses.

Bubenchikov, M. A., Kuznetsov, A. S., Matuskina, D. S., Letarov, A. V., Sokolova, O. S., Moiseenko, A. V.2026-04-11
⚛️ biophysics

Deciphering Coccolith Formation: Advanced Microscopy Insights from the Biomineralisation of Gephyrocapsa huxleyi

Using cryo-ptychographic X-ray computed tomography alongside electron microscopy, this study reveals the 3D developmental stages of *Gephyrocapsa huxleyi* coccolith formation, demonstrating how intracellular confinement shapes crystal morphology and offering insights into biomineralisation pathways for advanced material design.

Triccas, A., Verezhak, M., Ihli, J., Guizar-Sicairos, M., Holler, M., Laidlaw, F., Singleton, M., Chamard, V., Wood, R. (…)2026-04-10
⚛️ biophysics

Proton tunneling at the ryanodine receptor Ca2+ activation site provides temperature-invariant noise for robust Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release

This study demonstrates that proton tunneling at the conserved calcium activation site of the ryanodine receptor provides a temperature-invariant stochastic component that stabilizes calcium-induced calcium release, thereby ensuring robust rhythmicity in sinoatrial node cells across physiological temperatures.

Maltsev, A. V., Lakatta, E. G., Maltsev, V. A.2026-04-10
⚛️ biophysics

Dimerisation and twist reversal of the Lewy fold in α-synuclein mutants with Parkinson's disease and dementia

This study reveals that pathogenic SNCA mutations (A53T, G51D) induce distinct left-handed Lewy fold dimer structures with twist reversal in familial Parkinson's disease and dementia, whereas the non-pathogenic H50Q variant and human A53T transgenic mouse models exhibit different filament architectures resembling wild-type or multiple system atrophy folds, respectively.

Zhang, H., Murzin, A. G., Macdonald, J. A., Hinton, T. V., Peak-Chew, S., Franco, C., Cullinane, P. W., Warner, T., Okuz (…)2026-04-09