Two-dimensional NMR correlation experiments in the gas phase

The application of common two-dimensional NMR correlation experiments to gaseous analytes for structural elucidation is reported. Standard sequences such as COSY, HSQC, and HMBC are readily applied to volatile hydrocarbons and fluorocarbons. In experiments using (19)F or (13)C as the observed nucleus, it is possible to take advantage of efficient spin-rotation relaxation to perform common experiments swiftly (a (19)F COSY acquired in 6s is shown) or to render insensitive experiments possible on a practical timescale (e.g. a gas phase INADEQUATE at natural isotopic abundance in 14h). NOE-based experiments were not successful on the gaseous systems studied.     

An NMR study of the origin of dioxygen-induced spin-lattice relaxation enhancement and chemical shift perturbation

Due to its depth-dependent solubility, oxygen exerts paramagnetic effects which become progressively greater toward the hydrophobic interior of micelles, and lipid bilayer membranes. This paramagnetic gradient, which is manifested as contact shift perturbations (19F and 13C NMR) and spin-lattice relaxation enhancement (19F and 1H NMR), has been shown to be useful for precisely determining immersion depth, membrane protein secondary structure, and overall topology of membrane proteins. We have investigated the influence of oxygen on 19F and 13C NMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation rates of a semiperfluorinated detergent, (8,8,8)-trifluoro (3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7)-difluoro octylmaltoside (TFOM) in a model membrane system, to determine the dominant paramagnetic spin-lattice relaxation and shift-perturbation mechanism. Based on the ratio of paramagnetic spin-lattice relaxation rates of 19F and directly bonded 13C nuclei, we conclude that the dominant relaxation mechanism must be dipolar. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of oxygen-induced chemical shift perturbations in 9F NMR spectra suggests a contact interaction is the dominant shift mechanism. The respective hyperfine coupling constants for 19F and 13C nuclei can then be estimated from the contact shifts <(deltav/v0)19F> and <(deltav/v0)13C>, allowing us to estimate the relative contribution of scalar and dipolar relaxation to 19F and 13C nuclei. We conclude that the contribution to spin-lattice relaxation from the oxygen induced paramagnetic scalar mechanism is negligible.     

Spectral separation of gaseous fluorocarbon mixtures and measurement of diffusion constants by F gas phase DOSY NMR

Diffusion-ordered (DOSY) NMR techniques have for the first time been applied to the spectral separation of mixtures of fluorinated gases by diffusion rates. A mixture of linear perfluoroalkanes from methane to hexane was readily separated at 25 °C in an ordinary experimental setup with standard DOSY pulse sequences. Partial separation of variously fluorinated ethanes was also achieved. The constants of self-diffusion of a set of pure perfluoroalkanes were obtained at pressures from 0.25 to 1.34 atm and temperatures from 20 to 122 °C. Under all conditions there was agreement within 20% of experimental self-diffusion constant D and values calculated by the semiempirical Fuller method.     

Hydration water dynamics in biopolymers from NMR relaxation in the rotating frame

Assuming dipole-dipole interaction as the dominant relaxation mechanism of protons of water molecules adsorbed onto macromolecule (biopolymer) surfaces we have been able to model the dependences of relaxation rates on temperature and frequency. For adsorbed water molecules the correlation times are of the order of 10(-5)s, for which the dispersion region of spin-lattice relaxation rates in the rotating frame R(1)(ρ)=1/T(1)(ρ) appears over a range of easily accessible B(1) values. Measurements of T(1)(ρ) at constant temperature and different B(1) values then give the "dispersion profiles" for biopolymers. Fitting a theoretical relaxation model to these profiles allows for the estimation of correlation times. This way of obtaining the correlation time is easier and faster than approaches involving measurements of the temperature dependence of R(1)=1/T(1). The T(1)(ρ) dispersion approach, as a tool for molecular dynamics study, has been demonstrated for several hydrated biopolymer systems including crystalline cellulose, starch of different origins (potato, corn, oat, wheat), paper (modern, old) and lyophilized proteins (albumin, lysozyme).     

The Influence on NMR Parameters of Silicon Penta Coordination in Silatranes

¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F and ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants for Si-substituted silatranes, XSi(OCH₂CH₂)₃N, and triethoxysilanes, XSi(OCH₂CH₃)₃, where X = H, CH₃, and F have been studied. Expansion of the coordination numbers of silicon and tin leads to similar changes in the NMR parameters.     

Design and construction of a versatile dual volume heteronuclear double resonance microcoil NMR probe

Improved NMR detection of mass limited samples can be obtained by taking advantage of the mass sensitivity of microcoil NMR, while throughput issues can be addressed using multiple, parallel sample detection coils. We present the design and construction of a double resonance 300-MHz dual volume microcoil NMR probe with thermally etched 440-nL detection volumes and fused silica transfer lines for high-throughput stopped-flow or flow-through sample analysis. Two orthogonal solenoidal detection coils and the novel use of shielded inductors allowed the construction of a probe with negligible radio-frequency cross talk. The probe was resonated at ¹H–²D (upper coil) and ¹H–¹³C (lower coil) frequencies such that it could perform 1D and 2D experiments with active locking frequency. The coils exhibited line widths of 0.8–1.1 Hz with good mass sensitivity for both ¹H and ¹³C NMR detection. ¹³C-directly detected ²D HETCOR spectra of 5% v/v ¹³C labeled acetic acid were obtained in less than 5 min. Demonstration of the probe characteristics as well as applications of the versatile two-coil double resonance probe are discussed.     

Proton and Carbon - 13 NMR Assignments for Fluorinated and Nonfluorinated Aromatic Ketimines

The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of three aromatic ketimines with varying degrees of fluoro substitution have been extensively studied using one and two dimensional techniques. COSY experiments were conducted to identify the protons on each of the aromatic groups, HETCORR experiments were then utilized to identify the corresponding carbon atoms, and then the order of the carbon atoms was established by long-range HETCORR (HRTCORRLR) results. These studies have allowed rigorous assignments to be made for most of the carbon and hydrogen atoms present in these compounds. Fluorine splittings were very helpful in the analyses. In the course of this study, the NMR absorbances (¹H and ¹³C) of related aldimines have also been assigned. This constitutes the first report on the assignments of ¹H and ¹³C absorbances for ketimines. The observed spectral properties suggest that the structure of aromatic ketimines is one in which the aromatic rings are in three different planes. Two of the aromatic rings, the N-substituted ring and the C-substituted ring in the cis configuration, are twisted substantially out of the plane with respect to the -C=N- bond. The remaining C-substituted aromatic ring, trans to the N-substituted ring, lies in the deshielding zone of the imine bond.     

Determination of Multiple φ-Torsion Angles in Proteins by Selective and Extensive C Labeling and Two-Dimensional Solid-State NMR

We describe an approach to efficiently determine the backbone conformation of solid proteins that utilizes selective and extensive ¹³C labeling in conjunction with two-dimensional magic-angle-spinning NMR. The selective ¹³C labeling approach aims to reduce line broadening and other multispin complications encountered in solid-state NMR of uniformly labeled proteins while still enhancing the sensitivity of NMR spectra. It is achieved by using specifically labeled glucose or glycerol as the sole carbon source in the protein expression medium. For amino acids synthesized in the linear part of the biosynthetic pathways, [1-¹³C]glucose preferentially labels the ends of the side chains, while [2-¹³C]glycerol labels the C^α of these residues. Amino acids produced from the citric-acid cycle are labeled in a more complex manner. Information on the secondary structure of such a labeled protein was obtained by measuring multiple backbone torsion angles φ simultaneously, using an isotropic–anisotropic 2D correlation technique, the HNCH experiment. Initial experiments for resonance assignment of a selectively ¹³C labeled protein were performed using ¹⁵N–¹³C 2D correlation spectroscopy. From the time dependence of the ¹⁵N–¹³C dipolar coherence transfer, both intraresidue and interresidue connectivities can be observed, thus yielding partial sequential assignment. We demonstrate the selective ¹³C labeling and these 2D NMR experiments on a 8.5-kDa model protein, ubiquitin. This isotope-edited NMR approach is expected to facilitate the structure determination of proteins in the solid state.     

Chemical shift referencing in MAS solid state NMR

Solid state 13C magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra are typically referenced externally using a probe which does not incorporate a field frequency lock. Solution NMR shifts on the other hand are more often determined with respect to an internal reference and using a deuterium based field frequency lock. Further differences arise in solution NMR of proteins and nucleic acids where both 13C and 1H shifts are referenced by recording the frequency of the 1H resonance of DSS (sodium salt of 2,2-dimethyl-2-silapentane-5-sulphonic acid) instead of TMS (tetramethylsilane). In this note we investigate the difficulties in relating shifts measured relative to TMS and DSS by these various approaches in solution and solids NMR, and calibrate adamantane as an external 13C standard for solids NMR. We find that external chemical shift referencing of magic angle spinning spectra is typically quite reproducible and accurate, with better than +/-0.03 ppm accuracy being straight forward to achieve. Solid state and liquid phase NMR shifts obtained by magic angle spinning with external referencing agree with those measured using typical solution NMR hardware with the sample tube aligned with the applied field as long as magnetic susceptibility corrections and solvent shifts are taken into account. The DSS and TMS reference scales for 13C and 1H are related accurately using MAS NMR. Large solvent shifts for the 13C resonance in TMS in either deuterochloroform or methanol are observed, being +0.71 ppm and -0.74 ppm from external TMS, respectively. The ratio of the 13C resonance frequencies for the two carbons in solid adamantane to the 1H resonance of TMS is reported.     

In vivo NMR spectroscopy: in situ 15N pulse labelling NMR spectroscopy with photoautotrophic microorganisms

For studying the nitrogen metabolism in plants ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy can be used. For in vivo ¹⁵N NMR (natural abundance of ¹⁵N: 0.37%) enrichment of the sample with the isotope ¹⁵N is compulsory. The detection of time courses of ¹⁵N assimilation from cells, which are enriched in culture is restricted in scope. Here, a method, the ¹⁵N pulse labelling NMR spectroscopy, is demonstrated, which permits labelling of different nitrogen compounds in photoautotrophic microorganisms during the NMR spectroscopic measurement. Using an effective illumination system it is possible to maintain photosynthesis in plant samples of high biomass densities in the magnet necessary for ammonia assimilation. The technique thus enables to directly observe ammonia assimilation pathways by application of a ¹⁵NO₃ ^? or ¹⁵NH₄ ^? pulses.

Für das Studium des Stickstoffstoffwechsels der Pflanzen kann die ¹⁵N-NMR-Spektroskopie herangezogen werden. Hierzu ist bei der in-vivo-¹⁵N-NMR (natürliche Häufigkeit von ¹⁵N: 0.37%) eine Anreicherung der Probe mit dem Isotop ¹⁵N unerläßlich. Eine Verfolgung der ¹⁵N-Assimilationskinetik mit Zellen, die in der Kultur angereichert wurden, ist jedoch nur bedingt möglich. In dieser Arbeit wird die ¹⁵N-Pulsmarkierungs-NMR-Spektroskopie als eine Methode vorgestellt, die es erlaubt, eine Markierung von Stickstoffverbindungen in photoautotrophen einzelligen Mikroorganismen während der NMR-Messung im Magneten vorzunehmen. Es wird ein spezielles Beleuchtungssystem verwendet, das eine für die Stickstoffassimilation ausreichende Photosyntheseleistung der Zellen unter NMR-Bedingungen bei hoher Biomassedichte ermöglicht. Diese Technik erlaubt durch die Applikation eines ¹⁵NO₃ ^?-oder ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺-Pulses eine direkte Verfolgung von Ammonium-Assimilationswegen.     

14N NMR relaxation times of several protein amino acids in aqueous solution--comparison with 17O NMR data and estimation of the relative hydration numbers in the cationic and zwitterionic forms

The 14N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) linewidths of the alpha-amino groups of several protein amino acids were measured in aqueous solution, with and without composite proton decoupling, to estimate the effect of proton exchange and molecular weight on the linewidths. It is shown that, contrary to earlier claims, the increase in the linewidth at low pH is not exclusively due to the effect of proton exchange broadening. The 14N linewidths, under composite proton decoupling, increase with the bulk of the amino acid, and increase at low pH. Statistical treatment of the experimental 14N and literature 17O NMR data was performed assuming two models: (i) an isotropic molecular reorientation of a rigid sphere in a medium of viscosity eta, (ii) a stochastic diffusion of the amino and carboxyl groups comprising contributions from internal (tauint) and overall (taumol) motions. Assuming a single correlation time from overall molecular reorientation (taumol), then, a linear correlation was found between the linewidths and the molecular weights of the protein amino acids at the pH values 0.5 and 6.0, which are characteristic of the cationic and zwitterionic forms, respectively. The slopes of the straight-lines were found to be dependent of pH for 14N, contrary to the 17O linear correlations whose slopes were found to be independent of pH. Assuming effective correlation times of the amino and carboxyl groups, which comprise contributions from the internal (tauint) and overall (taumol) motions, then, a significant improvement of the statistics of the regression analysis was observed. The 14N relaxation data, in conjunction with 17O NMR linewidths, can be interpreted by assuming that the 14N quadrupole coupling constants (NQCCs) are influenced by the protonation state of the carboxyl group, the 17O NQCCs remain constant, and the cationic form of the amino acids is hydrated by an excess of 1-3 molecules of water relative to the zwitterionic state.     

A Spectroscopic Study of Outer-Sphere Interaction in M3UO2F5 Complexes

The data available in literature on the vibration spectra of complex uranyl compounds indicate that the stretching vibration frequencies of the UO²⁺ ₂ group depend not only on the composition of the coordination sphere, but also on the outer surrounding of the complex anion. The outer-sphere cation, in case of uranyl complexes, acts as a competitor of the uranyl group to form bonds with, ligands. At the same time, as a result of decrease in the electron density localised on the U-F bonds, the strength of these bonds becomes less.     

Discerning the degenerate transitions of scalar coupled H NMR spectra: Correlation and resolved techniques at higher quantum

The blend of spin topological filtering and the spin state selective detection of single quantum transitions by the two dimensional multiple quantum-single quantum correlation and higher quantum resolved techniques have been employed for simplifying the complexity of scalar coupled ¹H NMR spectra. The conventional two dimensional COSY and TOCSY experiments, though identify the coupled spin networks, fail to differentiate them due to severe overlap of transitions. Non-selective excitation of homonuclear higher quantum of protons results in filtering of spin systems irrespective of their spin topologies. The spin state selection by passive ¹⁹F spins provides fewer transitions in each cross section of the single quantum dimension simplifying the analyses of the complex spectra. The degenerate single quantum transitions are further discerned by spin selective double and/or triple quantum resolved experiments that mimic simultaneous heteronuclear and selective homonuclear decoupling in the higher quantum dimension. The techniques aided the determination of precise values of spectral parameters and relative signs of the couplings.     

Sub-barrier fission fragment angular distributions for the system19F+232Th

The measurements of fission fragment angular distributions for the system¹⁹F+²³²Th have been extended to the sub-barrier energies of 89.3, 91.5 and 93.6 MeV. The measured anisotropies, within errors are nearly the same over this energy region. However, the deviation of the experimental values of anisotropies from that of standard statistical model predictions increases as the bombarding energy is lowered.     

Quantitative Evaluation of the Lactate Signal Loss and Its Spatial Dependence in PRESS Localized H NMR Spectroscopy

Localized ¹H NMR spectroscopy using the 90°−t₁−180°−t₁+t₂−180°−t₂−Acq. PRESS sequence can lead to a signal loss for the lactate doublet compared with signals from uncoupled nuclei which is dependent on the choice of t₁ and t₂. The most striking signal loss of up to 78% of the total signal occurs with the symmetrical PRESS sequence (t₁=t₂) at an echo time of 2/J (290 ms). Calculations have shown that this signal loss is related to the pulse angle distributions produced by the two refocusing pulses which leads to the creation of single quantum polarization transfer (PT) as well as to not directly observable states (NDOS) of the lactate AX₃ spin system: zero- and multiple-quantum coherences, and longitudinal spin orders. In addition, the chemical shift dependent voxel displacement (VOD) leads to further signal loss. By calculating the density operator for various of the echo times TE=n/J, n=1, 2, 3, …, we calculated quantitatively the contributions of these effects to the signal loss as well as their spatial distribution. A maximum signal loss of 75% can be expected from theory for the symmetrical PRESS sequence and TE=2/J for Hamming filtered sinc pulses, whereby 47% are due to the creation of NDOS and up to 28% arise from PT. Taking also the VOD effect into account (2 mT/m slice selection gradients, 20-mm slices) leads to 54% signal loss from NDOS and up to 24% from PT, leading to a maximum signal loss of 78%. Using RE-BURP pulses with their more rectangular pulse angle distributions reduces the maximum signal loss to 44%. Experiments at 1.5 T using a lactate solution demonstrated a maximum lactate signal loss for sinc pulses of 82% (52% NDOS, 30% PT) at TE=290 ms using the symmetrical PRESS sequence. The great signal loss and its spatial distribution is of importance for investigations using a symmetrical PRESS sequence at TE=2/J.     

Recurrence equations for the computation of correlations in the 1/r2 quantum many-body system

In a previous paper the two-particle distribution function and one-particle density matrix for the quantum many-body system with the 1/r ² pair potential have been expressed as limiting cases of Selberg correlation integrals. Recurrence equations are derived which allow rapid evaluation of these multidimensional integrals. The exact results for the two-particle distribution are compared with the harmonic approximation.     

13C NMR in the Structural Assignment of Fused Furoxans

The chemical shifts and multiplicities of the two bridgehead carbons in the ¹³C NMR spectra of various fused furoxans are snown to provide a general method for assigning structure in these tautomeric systems.     

Evidence for a dipolar-coupled AM system in carnosine in human calf muscle from in vivo 1H NMR spectroscopy

Spin systems with residual dipolar couplings such as creatine, taurine, and lactate in skeletal muscle tissue exhibit first-order spectra in in vivo 1H NMR spectroscopy at 1.5 T because the coupled protons are represented by (nearly) symmetrized eigenfunctions. The imidazole ring protons (H2, H4) of carnosine are suspected to form also a coupled system. The ring's stiffness could enable a connectivity between these anisochronous protons with the consequence of second-order spectra at low field strength. Our purpose was to study whether this deviation from the Paschen-Back condition can be used to detect the H2-H4 coupling in localized 1D 1H NMR spectra obtained at 1.5 T (64 MHz) from the human calf in a conventional whole-body scanner. As for the hydrogen hyperfine interaction, a Breit-Rabi equation was derived to describe the transition from Zeeman to Paschen-Back regime for two dipolar-coupled protons. The ratio of the measurable coupling strength (Sk) and the difference in resonance frequencies of the coupled spins (Deltaomega) induces quantum-state mixing of various degree upon definition of an appropriate eigenbase of the coupled spin system. The corresponding Clebsch-Gordan coefficients manifest in characteristic energy corrections in the Breit-Rabi formula. These additional terms were used to define an asymmetry parameter of the line positions as a function of Sk and Deltaomega. The observed frequency shifts of the resonances were found to be consistent with this parameter within the accuracy achievable in in vivo NMR spectroscopy. Thus it was possible to identify the origin of satellite peaks of H2, H4 and to describe this so far not investigated type of residual dipolar coupling in vivo.