NMR of membrane proteins in solution

Solution NMR has been establishd as an important method to determine structures of proteins and protein complexes that are easily soluble in aqueous solution. It also offers unique opportunites to probe dynamical processes of such proteins and complexes. NMR has been successfully employed in obtaining highly resolved spectra of membrane-bound peptides and proteins in lipid bilayers. The most advanced NMR techniques and spectrometers operating at high magnetic fields are typically employed to solve structures of these membrane proteins. NMR offers unique advantages of macromolecules on many different time scales. It is also an excellent method for studying the interaction of lipids and detergents with membrane proteins, mapping the regions of mutual contact. Once solution NMR of membrane proteins becomes more routine, this method should add an extremely valuable tool to pharmaceutical efforts in drug discovery.