Membranes, Minerals and Magnets: Application of NMR Spectroscopy to Biological Interfaces

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique for studying the structures and interactions of macromolecules and their assemblies with atomic resolution. It is the premier technology for characterizing the complex biology occurring at interfacial regions, a challenging task where samples are often not amenable for X-ray crystallography or electron microscopy (EM) methods. This chapter describes examples of the successful application of NMR spectroscopy to complex biological systems ranging from membrane-embedded proteins to mineral-associated proteins and describes advancements in the field to obtain native and near-native systems.