13C CPMAS spectroscopy of deuterated proteins: CP dynamics, line shapes, and T1 relaxation

(13)C CPMAS NMR has been investigated in application to protein samples with a variety of deuteration patterns. Samples were prepared with protons in either all hydrogen positions, only in the exchangeable sites, or in the exchangeable sites plus select methyl groups. CP dynamics, T(1) relaxation times, and (13)C line widths have been compared. Using ubiquitin as a model system, reasonable (1)H-(13)C CP transfer is observed for the extensively deuterated samples. In the absence of deuterium decoupling, the (13)C line widths observed for the deuterated samples are identical to those observed for the perprotio samples with a MAS rate of 20 kHz. Extensive deuteration has little effect on the T(1) of the exchangeable protons. On the basis of these observations, it is clear that there are no substantive compromises accompanying the use of extensive deuteration in the design of (1)H, (15)N, or (13)C solid-state NMR methods.