Toward multipurpose NMR experiments

Standard phase cycled NMR pulse sequences were generalized such that for each individual step of the pulse phase cycle the free induction decay is stored separately without phase correction. This is in contrast to the usual practice, where pulse responses are phase shifted immediately (by applying a ‘receiver phase’) and co‐added as they are stored. The approach used here allows one to extract different types of NMR information, which are usually referred to as different ‘experiments’, from the same raw data set a posteriori by using complex linear combinations. Storing the free induction decays of individual phase cycle steps separately and using specific linear combinations of these data to obtain a particular type of information increase the overall efficiency of a given set of NMR experiments substantially, because all information can be derived from a single multiplexed data set. This ‘super‐experiment’ requires only as much time as the most complex of the derived specific experiments alone. The principle of this multipurpose approach was demonstrated by performing different multiple‐quantum filtered COSY experiments. It also becomes possible to generate linear combinations, which differ from the conventionally acquired spectra a posteriori. For example, we implemented diagonal peak reduction by using zero‐ and single‐quantum filtered COSY contributions without requiring additional experiment time. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimizing sensitivity and resolution in time-shared NMR experiments

An improved approach to optimize the overall sensitivity and the resolution requirements in the indirect dimension of (13)C/(15)N time-shared (TS) NMR experiments is presented. A different data sampling acquisition procedure is applied for (13)C and (15)N in the indirect dimension, and a proper data recombination before conventional data processing allows a customized adjustment of spectral widths, number of scans and number of increments individually for (13)C and (15)N. The major benefit is an important improvement on the detection limits of the TS experiment that overcomes the lower sensitivity of (15)N over (13)C at natural abundance. We evaluate such enhancements from 2D TS-HMBC experiments recorded on a nitrogen-containing synthetic azole derivative of pharmaceutical interest.     

Optimized 1D double quantum filter NMR experiments

We propose and demonstrate a 1D pulse sequence to convert double quantum coherence (DQC) of y phase with optimal efficiency, relying on single transition selection. Our sequence has a larger high-sensitivity bandwidth with respect to the coupling, compared to other reconversion strategies. A modified version of the new pulse sequence provides the missing chemical shift and coupling information, at minor cost in sensitivity. Application to 1D 13C INADEQUATE is demonstrated.Our new sequence is also applied to quadrupole coupled spin-1 systems, such as 2H in lyotropic phase. Performance of the sequence may be fine-tuned by pulse flip angle optimization, taking into account relaxation effects.     

A suite of 2H NMR spin relaxation experiments for the measurement of RNA dynamics

A suite of (2)H-based spin relaxation NMR experiments is presented for the measurement of molecular dynamics in a site-specific manner in uniformly (13)C, randomly fractionally deuterated ( approximately 50%) RNA molecules. The experiments quantify (2)H R(1) and R(2) relaxation rates that can subsequently be analyzed to obtain information about dynamics on a pico- to nanosecond time scale. Sensitivity permitting, the consistency of the data can be evaluated by measuring all five rates that are accessible for a spin 1 particle and establishing that the rates obey relations that are predicted from theory. The utility of the methodology is demonstrated with studies of the dynamics of a 14-mer RNA containing the UUCG tetraloop at temperatures of 25 and 5 degrees C. The high quality of the data, even at 5 degrees C, suggests that the experiments will be of use for the study of RNA molecules that are as large as 30 nucleotides.     

Ultrafast solid-state 2D NMR experiments via orientational encoding

Among the methods proposed in recent years toward the acceleration of multidimensional NMR acquisitions is an "ultrafast" approach, capable of delivering arbitrary 2D correlations within a single scan. This scheme operates by parallelizing the indirect-domain temporal incrementation involved in 2D acquisitions, using as aid an ancillary inhomogeneous frequency broadening acting in combination with a train of frequency-shifted RF pulses. So far, all implementations of this frequency broadening have relied on magnetic field gradients; yet the practical performance of gradient-based approaches is sometimes inadequate-for instance when applied on solid samples subject to magic-angle spinning. In order to deal with these cases, an alternative encoding protocol is here introduced and experimentally exemplified, based on exploiting the intrinsic anisotropy that spin interactions exhibit in the solid state as the ancillary broadening in charge of encoding the interactions to be measured. Principles and preliminary examples of the new orientationally encoded ultrafast 2D NMR principle thus resulting are presented and discussed.     

Addressing non-idealities in NMR experiments on rotating liquid crystals

Unequivocal evidence for a biaxial nematic phase in low-molar-mass calamitic thermotropic liquid crystals has been challenging to generate. Recently we provided NMR evidence that nonlinear calamitic mesogens based on the oxadiazole heterocycle exhibit a biaxial nematic phase (Phys. Rev. Lett., 2004, 92, 145505). Herein we probe the robustness of that claim by exploring potential variations of the director distribution from the ideal one that would apply to nematics rotated about an axis perpendicular to the spectrometer magnetic field. Moreover, we demonstrate that our methodology, when applied to the high temperature uniaxial nematic TBBA, yields a biaxial order parameter η = 0.0, thereby confirming the validity of our procedures. Our findings suggest that the original claim of biaxial order (η∼0.1) as reflected by probe molecule studies of oxadiazole mesogens is still valid.     

Sensitivity enhancement of multidimensional NMR experiments by paramagnetic relaxation effects

One of the main goals of NMR method development is to increase the sensitivity of multidimensional NMR experiments or reduce the required acquisition time. In these experiments, more than 80% of the NMR instrument time is spent on the recycle delay, where the instrument idles to wait for the recovery of proton magnetization. In this study, we report a method of using paramagnetic relaxation effects to shorten the recycle delays required in multidimensional NMR experiments of biological macromolecules. This approach significantly reduces the NMR instrument time required. Ni(2+) ion, complexed with the chelating molecule DO2A, is used to decrease the proton T(1) relaxation time of biological macromolecules without the significant line-broadening effects that are associated with most paramagnetic ions. The Ni(DO2A) also significantly decreases the T(1) relaxation time of water, thus providing additional sensitivity gain by eliminating the saturation of labile amide resonances.     

On the relation between a common gauge origin formulation and the GIAO formulation of the NMR shielding tensor

In this article the formal equivalence between the “gauge including atomic orbitals” (GIAO) and the simpler common gauge (cg) formulations of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) shielding tensor is proven. To be able to give this proof, one has to assume exactly solved zeroth order quantum mechanical equations and complete basis sets. The proof of the equivalence has been known in the literature for some time (e.g. S.T. Epstein `The variation method in quantum chemistry', Academic Press, 1974). However, our approach has the advantage that, by comparing the GIAO and cg methods, it provides insight into the para- and diamagnetic contributions of the shielding. Thus, it yields justification for qualitative analysis schemes that have been used to explain trends in chemical shifts. Our formal proof is based on density functional theory. However, it is argued that very similar arguments should apply to other levels of theory as well. Received: 25 June 2002 / Accepted: 18 July 2002 / Published online: 15 October 2002 Acknowledgments. The author would like to acknowledge Tom Ziegler, Calgary, for numerous discussions on the subject. The reviewer is acknowledged for the insightful and detailed comments. Correspondence to: G. Schreckenbach e-mail: schrecke@alcor.concordia.ca     

Speeding up three-dimensional protein NMR experiments to a few minutes

We demonstrate for different protein samples that three-dimensional HNCO and HNCA correlation spectra may be recorded in a few minutes acquisition time using the band-selective excitation short-transient sequences presented here. This opens new perspectives for the NMR structural investigation of unstable protein samples and real-time site-resolved studies of protein kinetics.     

NMR experiments on acetals—XXV: Conformational energy for the chair-twist interconversion of the 1,3-dioxane system

Trans-4-t-Bu-6-R-1,3-dioxanes (R = Me, Prⁱ and cyclohexyl) show temperature-dependent values for ²J(H—2) and ³J(H—4(6), H—5) in their PMR spectra. This is the result of the presence of twist-boat conformations. With the aid of typical limit-values of ²J(H—2) for the chair and twist forms, the amount of flexible conformations were determined as a function of temperature (Table 2), allowing the determination of the enthalpy change for chair-twist interconversion in 1,3-dioxane itself (6·2 ± 0·3 kcal/mole). Typical values for ²J(H—2) were obtained from a study of low temperature spectra and from appropriate model compounds of which 4-(1′-adamantyl)-6-t-Bu-1,3-dioxane served as the model for a genuine twist form with a twofold axis through C-2/C-5.     

2D NMR对Sarcophine所有^1H NMR和^1^3C NMR归属的指定

从中国南海软珊瑚Sarcophyton molle中分离得到大环二萜内酯Sarcophine(1)。本文利用^1H-^1H COSY，HMQC，HMBC等二维谱手段首次对Sarcophine所有^1H NMR、^1^3C NMR的信号归属进行了完全的指定。并第一次报道了其^1^3C NMR数据。     

Targeting norovirus infection-multivalent entry inhibitor design based on NMR experiments

Noroviruses attach to their host cells through histo blood group antigens (HBGAs), and compounds that interfere with this interaction are likely to be of therapeutic or diagnostic interest. It is shown that NMR binding studies can simultaneously identify and differentiate the site for binding HBGA ligands and complementary ligands from a large compound library, thereby facilitating the design of potent heterobifunctional ligands. Saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR experiments, spin-lock filtered NMR experiments, and interligand NOE (ILOE) experiments in the presence of virus-like particles (VLPs), identified compounds that bind to the HBGA binding site of human norovirus. Based on these data two multivalent prototype entry-inhibitors against norovirus infection were synthesized. A surface plasmon resonance based inhibition assay showed avidity gains of 1000 and one million fold over a millimolar univalent ligand. This suggests that further rational design of multivalent inhibitors based on our strategy will identify potent entry-inhibitors against norovirus infections.     

Path integral formulation for many-electron system

The Feynman path integral method is applied to the many-electron problem of quantum chemistry. We begin with constructing new closure relations in terms of the linear combination of atomic orbital (LCAO) coefficients and investigate the transition amplitude and the partition function of the system in question; then a “classical path of electrons,” which is described by the time-dependent Hartree-Fock-Roothaan equation, is obtained by minimizing the action integral of the system with respect to the “electron coordinate.” The next order approximation is obtained by evaluating the deviation from this classical path, which is approximately written by a Gaussian integral. The result is expected to be the random-phase approximation. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Intermediate motions as studied by solid-state separated local field NMR experiments

In this report, the application of a class of separated local field NMR experiments named dipolar chemical shift correlation (DIPSHIFT) for probing motions in the intermediate regime is discussed. Simple analytical procedures based on the Anderson-Weiss (AW) approximation are presented. In order to establish limits of validity of the AW based formulas, a comparison with spin dynamics simulations based on the solution of the stochastic Liouville-von-Neumann equation is presented. It is shown that at short evolution times (less than 30% of the rotor period), the AW based formulas are suitable for fitting the DIPSHIFT curves and extracting kinetic parameters even in the case of jumplike motions. However, full spin dynamics simulations provide a more reliable treatment and extend the frequency range of the molecular motions accessible by DIPSHIFT experiments. As an experimental test, molecular jumps of imidazol methyl sulfonate and trimethylsulfoxonium iodide, as well as the side-chain motions in the photoluminescent polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene], were characterized. Possible extensions are also discussed.     

Inverse H-C ex situ HRMAS NMR experiments for solid-phase peptide synthesis

The growing importance of solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) has necessitated the development of spectroscopic experiments that can be used to obtain structural and conformational information on resin-bound peptides. Despite the utility of two-dimensional high-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) NMR experiments that provide homonuclear shift correlations, experiments that provide heteronuclear shift correlations are necessary for complex conformational and structural elucidatory problems. Here we report the optimization and implementation of non-gradient inverse NMR experiments for acquiring the 1H-13C shift correlations of resin-bound peptides. The use of non-gradient experiments is advantageous as many magic angle spinning (MAS) probes do not possess gradient coils. An HRMAS BIRD-HMQC experiment with a reduced 1JCH constant has proven very suitable for obtaining one-bond correlations. Long-range correlations can be interpolated by using a non-gradient HRMAS CT-HMBC-1 experiment where the resulting data is processed with forward linear prediction. It has been shown that removing the effects of 1H-1H J-modulation is crucial in order to view cross peaks that correspond to long-range correlations. Additionally, both experiments prove extremely useful over routine one-dimensional 13C HRMAS experiments for extracting carbon chemical shift data. The non-gradient HRMAS BIRD-HMQC and CT-HMBC-1 experiments can be used to assist in conformational analysis and to identify and deconvolute situations where accidental equivalence and seemingly correlated isochronous signals arise.     

Multi-dimensional pulsed field gradient magic angle spinning NMR experiments on membranes

The benefits of gradient techniques in the study of lipid membranes are demonstrated on a sample of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3 phosphocholine (POPC) liposomes embedded with ibuprofen. Most techniques from gradient NMR spectroscopy on solution samples are directly applicable to membrane samples subjected to magic angle spinning (MAS). Gradient-enhanced homo- and heteronuclear chemical shift correlation techniques were used to make resonance assignments. Gradient NOESY experiments provide insight into the location and dynamics of lipids, ibuprofen and water. Application of gradients not only reduces experiment time but also the t(1) noise in the multi-dimensional spectra. Diffusion measurements with pulsed field gradients characterize lateral movements of lipid and drug molecules in membranes. The theoretical framework for data analysis of MAS diffusion experiments on randomly oriented multilamellar liposomes is presented.     

A performance criterion for information theoretic data analysis

A previously unobserved electronic state in fluorobenzene appears as a two-photon resonance in the multiphoton resonance ionization spectrum. The band system is assigned to the 3s Rydberg ← b₂(π) HOMO transition with a quantum defect of 0.83 and an origin at 50 914 ± 15 cm^?1. Its correspondence to the benzene state characterized by Johnson in the same region assigns that state to E_1g 3s Rydberg.     

Detection and use of small J couplings in solid state NMR experiments

Over the years, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has become an important tool for materials science, with its local point of view that is highly complementary to the structural information provided by diffraction techniques, electron microscopy, and molecular modeling, for example. As compared to other interactions that determine the spectral expression of the local structure of the observed nuclei in solid-state NMR experiments, the J coupling, characteristic of the chemical bonds, has received far less attention because of its being generally so small that it is masked in the line-widths. Nevertheless, the scalar or isotropic part of J couplings, which is not averaged by magic angle spinning (MAS), can be evidenced in many systems, and exploited to unequivocally characterize the extended coordination sphere. In a first step we describe the different experiments that permit the observation and the measurement of J couplings, even when dealing with quadrupolar nuclei. We then present new and recently-published results that illustrate the state of the art of NMR methodologies based on or intended for measuring J couplings in solids and the novel perspectives that they open towards better understanding of ordered and disordered materials at the subnanometric scale, a length scale that is otherwise difficult to access.     

Non-uniformly sampled double-TROSY hNcaNH experiments for NMR sequential assignments of large proteins

The initial step of protein NMR resonance assignments typically identifies the sequence positions of 1H-15N HSQC cross-peaks. This is usually achieved by tediously comparing strips of multiple triple-resonance experiments. More conveniently, this could be obtained directly with hNcaNH and hNcocaNH-type experiments. However, in large proteins and at very high fields, rapid transverse relaxation severely limits the sensitivity of these experiments, and the limited spectral resolution obtainable in conventionally recorded experiments leaves many assignments ambiguous. We have developed alternative hNcaNH experiments that overcome most of these limitations. The TROSY technique was implemented for semiconstant time evolutions in both indirect dimensions, which results in remarkable sensitivity and resolution enhancements. Non-uniform sampling in both indirect dimensions combined with Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) reconstruction enables such dramatic resolution enhancement while maintaining short measuring times. Experiments are presented that provide either bidirectional or unidirectional connectivities. The experiments do not involve carbonyl coherences and thus do not suffer from fast chemical shift anisotropy-mediated relaxation otherwise encountered at very high fields. The method was applied to a 300 microM sample of a 37 kDa fragment of the E. coli enterobactin synthetase module EntF, for which high-resolution spectra with an excellent signal-to-noise ratio were obtained within 4 days each.