Rotary resonance recoupling of 13C−1H dipolar interactions in magic angle spinning 13C NMR of dynamic solids

Ultrafast Magic Angle Spinning Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy: Advances in Methodology and Applications

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is one of the most commonly used techniques to study the atomic-resolution structure and dynamics of various chemical, biological, material, and pharmaceutical systems spanning multiple forms, including crystalline, liquid crystalline, fibrous, and amorphous states. Despite the unique advantages of solid-state NMR spectroscopy, its poor spectral resolution and sensitivity have severely limited the scope of this technique. Fortunately, the recent developments in probe technology that mechanically rotate the sample fast (100 kHz and above) to obtain "solution-like" NMR spectra of solids with higher resolution and sensitivity have opened numerous avenues for the development of novel NMR techniques and their applications to study a plethora of solids including globular and membrane-associated proteins, self-assembled protein aggregates such as amyloid fibers, RNA, viral assemblies, polymorphic pharmaceuticals, metal-organic framework, bone materials, and inorganic materials. While the ultrafast-MAS continues to be developed, the minute sample quantity and radio frequency requirements, shorter recycle delays enabling fast data acquisition, the feasibility of employing proton detection, enhancement in proton spectral resolution and polarization transfer efficiency, and high sensitivity per unit sample are some of the remarkable benefits of the ultrafast-MAS technology as demonstrated by the reported studies in the literature. Although the very low sample volume and very high RF power could be limitations for some of the systems, the advantages have spurred solid-state NMR investigation into increasingly complex biological and material systems. As ultrafast-MAS NMR techniques are increasingly used in multidisciplinary research areas, further development of instrumentation, probes, and advanced methods are pursued in parallel to overcome the limitations and challenges for widespread applications. This review article is focused on providing timely comprehensive coverage of the major developments on instrumentation, theory, techniques, applications, limitations, and future scope of ultrafast-MAS technology.

Systematic evaluation of heteronuclear spin decoupling in solid-state NMR at the rotary-resonance conditions in the regime of fast magic-angle spinning

The performance of heteronuclear spin decoupling sequences in solid-state NMR severely degrades when the proton radiofrequency (RF) nutation frequencies (ν1) are close to or at multiples of magic-angle spinning (MAS) frequency (νr) that are referred to as rotary-resonance recoupling conditions (ν1=n·νr). Recently, two schemes, namely, PISSARRO and rCW(ApA), have been shown to be less affected by the problem of MAS and RF interference, specifically at the n=2 rotary-resonance recoupling condition, especially in the fast MAS regime. Here, we systematically evaluate the loss in intensity of several heteronuclear spin decoupling sequences at the n=1, 2 conditions compared to high-power decoupling in the fast-MAS regime. We propose that in the fast-MAS regime (above 40kHz) the entire discussion about RF and MAS interference can be avoided by using appropriate low-power decoupling sequences which give comparable performance to decoupling sequences with high-power (1)H irradiation of ca.195kHz.

Water scaffolding in collagen: Implications on protein dynamics as revealed by solid-state NMR

Solid-state NMR studies of collagen samples of various origins confirm that the amplitude of collagen backbone and sidechain motions increases significantly on increasing the water content. This conclusion is supported by the changes observed in three different NMR observables: (i) the linewidth dependence on the 1H decoupling frequency; (ii) 13C CSA changes for the peptide carbonyl groups, and (iii) dephasing rates of 1H-13C dipolar couplings. In particular, a nearly threefold increase in motional amplitudes of the backbone librations about C-Cα or N-Cα bonds was found on increasing the added water content up to 47 wt%D2 O. On the basis of the frequencies of NMR observables involved, the timescale of the protein motions dependent on the added water content is estimated to be of the order of microseconds. This estimate agrees with that from wideline T2(1)H NMR measurements. Also, our wideline 1H NMR measurements revealed that the timescale of the microsecond motions in proteins reduces significantly on increasing the added water content, i.e., an ∼15-fold increase in protein motional frequencies is observed on increasing the added water content to 45 wt% D2 O. The observed changes in collagen dynamics is attributed to the increase in water translational diffusion on increasing the amount of added water, which leads to more frequent "bound water/free water" exchange on the protein surface, accompanied by the breakage and formation of new hydrogen bonds with polar functionalities of protein.

NMR second moment imaging using Jeener-Broekaert dipolar signals

It is demonstrated that imaging of the 1H NMR second moment can be achieved by using the Jeener-Broekaert (JB) dipolar signal instead of the Zeeman FID signal commonly employed. The JB dipolar signal can be induced by applying a JB pulse sequence, 90 degrees (x)-tau-45 degrees (y)-tau(')-45 degrees (y), which is followed by the time-suspension magic echo sequence, TREV-16TS, for imaging detection. Scanning the imaging detection to cover the whole evolution of the JB dipolar signal finally results in producing spatially resolved JB dipolar signals. The local value of the quantity called the "JB second moment," M(2(JB)), is then estimated from the initial slope of each resolved JB dipolar signal. The M(2(JB)) can be regarded as the "weighted" powder average of the usual second moment. The "weighting" effect due to the JB sequence leads to the tau dependent M(2(JB)) value. The tau dependence is potentially useful for characterizing the second moment distribution resulting from the crystal orientation dependence: For example, in addition to the usual powder average, an approximate distribution range can be deduced by a simple analysis of the tau dependence, serving as a new contrast for materials imaging. This is illustrated by preliminary experiments performed on test samples.