Design of a conformation-sensitive xenon-binding cavity in the ribose-binding protein

129Xe MMR spectroscopy meets protein engineering: NMR spectroscopy with laser-polarized 129Xe can be used to report protein conformations only if a protein has a conformationally sensitive xenon-binding cavity. However, many proteins lack such reporter sites. A straightforward design process is used to engineer a xenon-binding cavity into the ribose-binding protein (see picture) that allows the 129Xe NMR spectroscopic report of protein conformation and ligand binding. (Figure presented).