Optically detected and radio wave-controlled spin chemistry in flavoproteins

Kun Meng; Linyan Nie; Johannes Berger; Nick R. von Grafenstein; Stefan Weber; Lars Oliver Essen; Roberto Rizzato; Christopher Einholz; Erik Schleicher; Dominik B. Bucher

doi:10.1038/s41587-026-03158-5

Optically detected and radio wave-controlled spin chemistry in flavoproteins

Kun Meng
, Linyan Nie
, Johannes Berger
, Nick R. von Grafenstein
, Stefan Weber
, Lars Oliver Essen
, Roberto Rizzato
, Christopher Einholz
, Erik Schleicher
, Dominik B. Bucher

Assistant Professorship of Quantum Sensing

Technical University of Munich
Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST)
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Philipps-Universität Marburg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Optically addressable spin systems have been widely studied for quantum-sensing applications. In this work, we demonstrate that photogenerated spin-correlated radical pairs in certain flavoproteins, cryptochrome and improved light–oxygen–voltage protein, can be manipulated by radio waves. This capability enables magnetic field sensing and spatial modulation of photoluminescence using radiofrequency pulses and magnetic field gradients, establishing proteins as a platform for optically addressable spin systems and radiofrequency-based control of biological processes.

Original language	English
Journal	Nature Biotechnology
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-026-03158-5
State	Accepted/In press - 2026

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title = "Optically detected and radio wave-controlled spin chemistry in flavoproteins",

abstract = "Optically addressable spin systems have been widely studied for quantum-sensing applications. In this work, we demonstrate that photogenerated spin-correlated radical pairs in certain flavoproteins, cryptochrome and improved light–oxygen–voltage protein, can be manipulated by radio waves. This capability enables magnetic field sensing and spatial modulation of photoluminescence using radiofrequency pulses and magnetic field gradients, establishing proteins as a platform for optically addressable spin systems and radiofrequency-based control of biological processes.",

author = "Kun Meng and Linyan Nie and Johannes Berger and \{von Grafenstein\}, \{Nick R.\} and Stefan Weber and Essen, \{Lars Oliver\} and Roberto Rizzato and Christopher Einholz and Erik Schleicher and Bucher, \{Dominik B.\}",

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doi = "10.1038/s41587-026-03158-5",

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journal = "Nature Biotechnology",

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T1 - Optically detected and radio wave-controlled spin chemistry in flavoproteins

AU - Meng, Kun

AU - Nie, Linyan

AU - Berger, Johannes

AU - von Grafenstein, Nick R.

AU - Weber, Stefan

AU - Essen, Lars Oliver

AU - Rizzato, Roberto

AU - Einholz, Christopher

AU - Schleicher, Erik

AU - Bucher, Dominik B.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Optically addressable spin systems have been widely studied for quantum-sensing applications. In this work, we demonstrate that photogenerated spin-correlated radical pairs in certain flavoproteins, cryptochrome and improved light–oxygen–voltage protein, can be manipulated by radio waves. This capability enables magnetic field sensing and spatial modulation of photoluminescence using radiofrequency pulses and magnetic field gradients, establishing proteins as a platform for optically addressable spin systems and radiofrequency-based control of biological processes.

AB - Optically addressable spin systems have been widely studied for quantum-sensing applications. In this work, we demonstrate that photogenerated spin-correlated radical pairs in certain flavoproteins, cryptochrome and improved light–oxygen–voltage protein, can be manipulated by radio waves. This capability enables magnetic field sensing and spatial modulation of photoluminescence using radiofrequency pulses and magnetic field gradients, establishing proteins as a platform for optically addressable spin systems and radiofrequency-based control of biological processes.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105042573166

U2 - 10.1038/s41587-026-03158-5

DO - 10.1038/s41587-026-03158-5

M3 - Article

C2 - 42215792

AN - SCOPUS:105042573166

SN - 1087-0156

JO - Nature Biotechnology

JF - Nature Biotechnology

ER -

Optically detected and radio wave-controlled spin chemistry in flavoproteins

Abstract

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