Side chain: backbone projections in aromatic and ASX residues from NMR cross-correlated relaxation

Distance-independent Cross-correlated Relaxation and Isotropic Chemical Shift Modulation in Protein Dynamics Studies

Cross-correlated relaxation (CCR) in multiple-quantum coherences differs from other relaxation phenomena in its theoretical ability to be mediated across an infinite distance. The two interfering relaxation mechanisms may be dipolar interactions, chemical shift anisotropies, chemical shift modulations or quadrupolar interactions. These properties make multiple-quantum CCR an attractive probe for structure and dynamics of biomacromolecules not accessible from other measurements. Here, we review the use of multiple-quantum CCR measurements in dynamics studies of proteins. We compile a list of all experiments proposed for CCR rate measurements, provide an overview of the theory with a focus on protein dynamics, and present applications to various protein systems.

Detection of Correlated Protein Backbone and Side-Chain Angle Fluctuations

NMR methods for the characterization of local protein motions have attained a high level of sophistication. Measurement of the synchronization between those motions, however, poses a serious challenge. Such correlated motions are one of the underlying mechanisms for the propagation of local changes to remote sites and as such for information transfer. Here, we demonstrate the experimental detection of the synchronization of motion over an intermediate range. To that purpose, we designed pulse sequences for the measurement of cross-correlated relaxation between the backbone H^N -N and side-chain H^β -C^β dipoles in Ile, Thr, and Val in the protein GB3. These bonds are related through two and three intervening dihedral angles. We show that the correlated motions inherent in a structural ensemble obtained from a large and diverse array of NMR probes are in excellent agreement with our measurements.

Enhancing the stiffness of vertical graphene sheets through ion beam irradiation and fluorination

Many applications of graphene can benefit from the enhanced mechanical robustness of graphene-based components. We report how the stiffness of vertical graphene (VG) sheets is affected by the introduction of defects and fluorination, both separately and combined. The defects were created using a high-energy ion beam while fluorination was performed in a XeF₂ etching system. After ion bombardment alone, the average effective reduced modulus (E _r), equal to ∼4.9 MPa for the as-grown VG sheets, approximately doubled to ∼10.0 MPa, while fluorination alone almost quadrupled it to ∼18.4 MPa. The maximum average E _r of ∼32.4 MPa was achieved by repeatedly applying fluorination and ion bombardment. This increase can be explained by the formation of covalent bonds between the VG sheets due to ion bombardment, as well as the conversion from sp² to sp³ and increased corrugation due to fluorination.

Cross-correlated relaxation rates between protein backbone H-X dipolar interactions

The relaxation interference between dipole-dipole interactions of two separate spin pairs carries structural and dynamics information. In particular, when compared to individual dynamic behavior of those spin pairs, such cross-correlated relaxation (CCR) rates report on the correlation between the spin pairs. We have recently mapped out correlated motion along the backbone of the protein GB3, using CCR rates among and between consecutive H^N-N and H^α-C^α dipole-dipole interactions. Here, we provide a detailed account of the measurement of the four types of CCR rates. All rates were obtained from at least two different pulse sequences, of which the yet unpublished ones are presented. Detailed comparisons between the different methods and corrections for unwanted pathways demonstrate that the averaged CCR rates are highly accurate and precise with errors of 1.5-3% of the entire value ranges.

How uniform is the peptide plane geometry? A high-accuracy NMR study of dipolar Cα-C'/H N-N cross-correlated relaxation

Highly precise and accurate measurements of very small NMR cross-correlated relaxation rates, namely those between protein H (i) (N) -N(i) and C (i-1) (α) -C(i-1)' dipoles, are demonstrated with an error of 0.03 s(-1) for GB3. Because the projection angles between the two dipole vectors are very close to the magic angle the rates range only from -0.2 to +0.2 s(-1). Small changes of the average vector orientations have a dramatic impact on the relative values. The rates suggest deviation from idealized peptide plane geometry caused by twists around the C'-N bonds and/or pyramidalization of the nitrogen atoms. A clear alternating pattern along the sequence is observed in β strands 1, 3 and 4 of GB3, where the side chains of almost all residues with large positive rates are solvent exposed. In the α helix all rates are relatively large and positive. Some of the currently most accurate structures of GB3 determined by both high resolution X-ray crystallography and NMR are in satisfactory agreement with the experimental rates in the helix and β strand 3, but not in the loops and the two central strands of the sheet for which no alternating pattern is predicted.

Comprehensive description of NMR cross-correlated relaxation under anisotropic molecular tumbling and correlated local dynamics on all time scales

A simple general expression for the NMR cross-correlated relaxation rate under anisotropic molecular tumbling is presented for globular proteins. The derivation includes effects of fast and slow motion of the interaction tensors and correlation between them. Expressions suitable for practical analysis are tailored in dependence of standard order parameters of the individual interactions. It is shown that these order parameters must be sensitive to slow motion (slower than molecular tumbling) for detection of slow correlated motion. Such order parameters are those obtained from residual dipolar couplings but not those obtained from T1, T2, and heteronuclear Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement measurements.