Magic-Angle Spinning Frequencies beyond 300 kHz Are Necessary To Yield Maximum Sensitivity in Selectively Methyl Protonated Protein Samples in Solid-State NMR

Abstract

In the last decade, proton detection in magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR became a popular strategy for biomolecular structure determination. In particular, probe technology has experienced tremendous progress with smaller and smaller diameter rotors achieving ever higher MAS frequencies. MAS rotation frequencies beyond 100 kHz allow to observe and assign protons in fully protonated samples. In these experiments, resolution is however compromised as homogeneous proton–proton dipolar coupling interactions are not completely averaged out. Using a combination of experiments and simulations, we analyze the MAS frequency-dependent intensities of the 1H,13C methyl correlation peaks of a selectively methyl protonated (CH3) microcrystalline sample of the chicken α-spectrin SH3 domain (α-SH3). Extensive simulations involving nine spins employing the program SIMPSON allow to predict the MAS frequency dependence of the proton intensities. The experimental results are used to validate the simulations. As qua...