Control of Cross Relaxation of Multiple-Quantum Coherences Induced by Fast Chemical Exchange under Heteronuclear Double-Resonance Irradiation

NMR Method for Characterizing Microsecond-to-Millisecond Chemical Exchanges Utilizing Differential Multiple-Quantum Relaxation in High Molecular Weight Proteins

Chemical exchange processes of proteins on the order of microseconds (μs) to milliseconds (ms) play critical roles in biological functions. Developments in methyl-transverse relaxation optimized spectroscopy (methyl-TROSY), which observes the slowly relaxing multiple quantum (MQ) coherences, have enabled the studies of biologically important large proteins. However, the analyses of μs to ms chemical exchange processes based on the methyl-TROSY principle are still challenging, because the interpretation of the chemical exchange contributions to the MQ relaxation profiles is complicated, as significant chemical shift differences occur in both (1)H and (13)C nuclei. Here, we report a new methyl-based NMR method for characterizing chemical exchanges, utilizing differential MQ relaxation rates and a heteronuclear double resonance pulse technique. The method enables quantitative evaluations of the chemical exchange processes, in which significant chemical shift differences exist in both the (1)H and (13)C nuclei. The versatility of the method is demonstrated with the application to KirBac1.1, with an apparent molecular mass of 200 kDa.

Theoretical tools for the design of NMR relaxation dispersion pulse sequences

Recent decades have witnessed tremendous progress in the development of new experimental methods for studying biomolecules, particularly in the field of NMR relaxation dispersion. Here we review the theoretical frameworks that provided the insights necessary for such progress. The effect of radio-frequency manipulations on spin systems is discussed using Average Hamiltonian Theory (AHT), Average Liouvillian Theory (ALT), and Bloch-Wangsness-Redfield (BWR) relaxation theory. We illustrate these concepts using the case of Heteronuclear Double Resonance (HDR) methods.