NMR of bio-macromolecules

Abstract

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance has emerged during the last two decades as the single most powerful tool for determination of high resolution' structures of biological macromolecules, in aqueous solutions under conditions akin to those prevalent in intracellular environments. The technique has seen radical developments, both with regard to physical concepts and with regard to instrument technologies. While the high magnetic fields have enabled greater dispersion of signals, heteronuclear multidimensional experiments have enabled spreading of the information in several dimensions making use of the different chemical shifts of the different nuclear types. This development has embraced molecular biology in all its glory for the preparation of isotopically labelled molecules in large quantities. Dealing with large amounts of data and extensive computer modelling calculations have encompassed software technologies as integral parts of NMR developments. Till date high resolution solution structures of more than 300 proteins and nucleic acid systems. having molecular weights in the range of 5-15 kDa, have been determined and the trend is to study even larger molecular systems and macromolecular complexes. The present review surveys the general trends with examples drawn largely from the work carried out in our own laboratory.