Solution NMR spectroscopy of supra-molecular systems, why bother? A methyl-TROSY view

With the development of appropriate labeling schemes and the associated experiments that exploit them it has become possible to record high quality solution NMR spectra of supra-molecular complexes with molecular masses extending to 1MDa. One such approach involves selective (13)CH(3) methyl labeling in highly deuterated proteins using experiments that make use of a methyl-TROSY effect that significantly improves both resolution and sensitivity in spectra. The utility of this methodology has been demonstrated on a growing number of interesting particles. It seems appropriate at this juncture, therefore, to 'step back' and evaluate the role that solution NMR spectroscopy can play in what has traditionally been the domain of X-ray crystallography and more recently cryo-electron microscopy. It is argued here that solution NMR can make a critical contribution to our understanding of how dynamics regulate function in these high molecular weight systems. Several examples from work in my laboratory on the proteasome are presented as an illustration.