Biomolecular dynamics using optical methods: Theory and experiment

Life arises from dynamic biomolecular behavior, often far from equilibrium. Optical methods offer unparalleled insights into such processes, capturing molecular rearrangements at compatible spatiotemporal scales. This special issue explores recent theoretical and experimental advances in optical methods applied to biomolecular systems, from folded and unfolded state ensembles to solvent effects on folding, binding, and allostery. It emphasizes the challenges of distinguishing photophysics and noise from biologically relevant signals and builds on foundational papers in JCP, highlighting progress in multistate kinetic models and innovative experimental approaches for studying increasingly complex biomolecular processes.