A simple graphical approach to predict local residue conformation using NMR chemical shifts and density functional theory

Abstract

The dependency of amino acid chemical shifts on φ and ψ torsion angle is, independently, studied using a five-residue fragment of ubiquitin and ONIOM(DFT:HF) approach. The variation of absolute deviation of (13) C(α) chemical shifts relative to φ dihedral angle is specifically dependent on secondary structure of protein not on amino acid type and fragment sequence. This dependency is observed neither on any of (13) C(β) , and (1) H(α) chemical shifts nor on the variation of absolute deviation of (13) C(α) chemical shifts relative to ψ dihedral angle. The (13) C(α) absolute deviation chemical shifts (ADCC) plots are found as a suitable and simple tool to predict secondary structure of protein with no requirement of highly accurate calculations, priori knowledge of protein structure and structural refinement. Comparison of Full-DFT and ONIOM(DFT:HF) approaches illustrates that the trend of (13) C(α) ADCC plots are independent of computational method but not of basis set valence shell type.