Low-ε Static Probe Development for¹⁵N-¹H Solid-state NMR Study of Membrane Proteins for an 800 MHz NB Magnet

Abstract

A low-ε solid-state NMR(Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) probe was developed for the spectroscopic analysis of two-dimensional 15 N-1 H heteronuclear dipolar coupling in dilute membrane proteins oriented in hydrated and dielectrically lossy lipid environments. The system employed a 800 MHz narrow-bore magnet. A solenoid coil strip shield was used to reduce deleterious RF sample heating by minimizing the conservative electric fields generated by the double-tuned resonator at high magnetic fields. The probe's design, construction, and performance in solid-state NMR experiments at high magnetic fields are described here. Such high-resolution solid-state NMR spectroscopic analysis of static oriented samples in hydrated phospholipid bilayers or bicelles could aid the structural analysis of dilute biological membrane proteins.