Accurate Measurement of H–H Residual Dipolar Couplings in Proteins

A method for accurately measuring H^N–H^α residual dipolar couplings is described. Using this technique, both the sign and magnitude of the coupling can be determined easily. Residual dipolar coupling between H^N(i)–H^α(i) and H^N(i)–H^α(i-1) were measured for the FK506 binding protein complexed to FK506. The experimental values were in excellent agreement with predictions based on an X-ray crystal structure of the protein/ligand complex, suggesting that these residual dipolar couplings will provide accurate structural constraints for the refinement of protein structures determined by NMR.