Theory and applications of supercycled symmetry-based recoupling sequences in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance.

We present the theoretical principles of supercycled symmetry-based recoupling sequences in solid-state magic-angle-spinning NMR. We discuss the construction procedure of the SR26 pulse sequence, which is a particularly robust sequence for double-quantum homonuclear dipole-dipole recoupling. The supercycle removes destructive higher-order average Hamiltonian terms and renders the sequence robust over long time intervals.

Accurate measurements of 13C-13C J-couplings in the rhodopsin chromophore by double-quantum solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

A new double-quantum solid-state NMR pulse sequence is presented and used to measure one-bond 13C-13C J-couplings in a set of 13C2-labeled rhodopsin isotopomers. The measured J-couplings reveal a perturbation of the electronic structure at the terminus of the conjugated chain but show no evidence for protein-induced electronic perturbation near the C11-C12 isomerization site. This work establishes NMR methodology for measuring accurate 1JCC values in noncrystalline macromolecules and shows that the measured J-couplings may reveal local electronic perturbations of mechanistic significance.

Heteronuclear decoupling interference during symmetry-based homonuclear recoupling in solid-state NMR.

We examine the influence of continuous-wave heteronuclear decoupling on symmetry-based double-quantum homonuclear dipolar recoupling, using experimental measurements, numerical simulations, and average Hamiltonian theory. There are two distinct regimes in which the heteronuclear interference effects are minimized. The first regime utilizes a moderate homonuclear recoupling field and a strong heteronuclear decoupling field; the second regime utilizes a strong homonuclear recoupling field and a weak or absent heteronuclear decoupling field.

Principles of spin-echo modulation by J-couplings in magic-angle-spinning solid-state NMR.

In magic-angle-spinning solid-state NMR, the homonuclear J-couplings between pairs of spin-1/2 nuclei may be determined by studying the modulation of the spin echo induced by a pi-pulse, as a function of the echo duration. We present the theory of J-induced spin-echo modulation in magic-angle-spinning solids, and derive a set of modulation regimes which apply under different experimental conditions. In most cases, the dominant spin-echo modulation frequency is exactly equal to the J-coupling.

Protein-induced bonding perturbation of the rhodopsin chromophore detected by double-quantum solid-state NMR.

We have obtained carbon-carbon bond length data for the functional retinylidene chromophore of rhodopsin, with a spatial resolution of 3 pm. The very high resolution was obtained by performing double-quantum solid-state NMR on a set of noncrystalline isotopically labelled bovine rhodopsin samples. We detected localized perturbations of the carbon-carbon bond lengths of the retinylidene chromophore.