Investigating Protein-Ligand Interactions by Solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Chemphyschem. 2018 Apr 17;19(8):895-906. doi: 10.1002/cphc.201701253. Epub 2018 Feb 16.

Abstract

Protein-ligand interactions are of fundamental importance in almost all processes in living organisms. The ligands comprise small molecules, drugs or biological macromolecules and their interaction strength varies over several orders of magnitude. Solution NMR spectroscopy offers a large repertoire of techniques to study such complexes. Here, we give an overview of the different NMR approaches available. The information they provide ranges from the simple information about the presence of binding or epitope mapping to the complete 3 D structure of the complex. NMR spectroscopy is particularly useful for the study of weak interactions and for the screening of binding ligands with atomic resolution.

Keywords: chemical shift mapping; nuclear Overhauser effect; nuclear magnetic resonance; protein-ligand interactions; saturation-transfer difference.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ligands*
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular / methods*
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Proteins