Peptide conformations. Part 30. Assignment of the 1H-, 13C-, and 15N-NMR spectra of cyclosporin A in CDCl3 and C6D6 by a combination of homo- and heteronuclear two-dimensional techniques

The ¹H-, ¹³C-, and ¹⁵N-NMR spectra of the immunosuppressive cyclic undecapeptide cyclosporin A ( 1 ) have been analyzed at 300 MHz in CDCl₃, C₆D₆, and mixtures of these solvents. A combination of different homo- and heteronuclear two-dimensional NMR techniques enable complete assignment of all H-, C- and 4 N-signals. Recognition of the proton spin systems has been achieved via ¹H,¹H–COSY and double-quantum-¹H-NMR spectroscopy. NOESY spectra yield some sequence assignments, but two techniques using coupling across amide bonds have been applied to get independent assignments of all amino acids in the sequence: (i) An ¹H,¹H-COSY spectrum optimized for small coupling constants enables the detection of long-range couplings from N-methyl groups to both α-protons attached to that amide bond. (ii) An ¹H, ¹³C-COSY spectrum optimized for C,H-long-range couplings (J = 5 to 10 Hz) to the eleven CO groups again yields coupling to both α-protons attached to that amide bond. Additionally these two experiments yield the assignment of N-methyl protons and carbonyl C-atoms. Normal and relayed ¹H,¹³C-COSY in both solvents have been applied to assign all C-atoms via their directly attached and remote protons. An ¹H,¹³C-COLOC spectrum at 500 MHz in CDCl₃, which uses H,C-long-range couplings confirms the assignment of all proton spin systems as well as the C-signals of each individual amino acid. Ambiguities in the assignment of the C(δ)'s of MeLeu have thus been removed. An ¹H,¹⁵N-COSY spectrum enables the assignment of the 4 NH N-atoms.