Protein nuclear magnetic resonance under physiological conditions

Biochemistry. 2009 Jan 20;48(2):226-34. doi: 10.1021/bi8018948.

Abstract

Almost everything we know about protein biophysics comes from studies on purified proteins in dilute solution. Most proteins, however, operate inside cells where the concentration of macromolecules can be >300 mg/mL. Although reductionism-based approaches have served protein science well for more than a century, biochemists now have the tools to study proteins under these more physiologically relevant conditions. We review a part of this burgeoning postreductionist landscape by focusing on high-resolution protein nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the only method that provides atomic-level information over an entire protein under the crowded conditions found in cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Deuterium / chemistry
  • Diffusion
  • Nitrogen / chemistry
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular / methods*
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Proteins
  • Carbon
  • Deuterium
  • Nitrogen