Looking into live cells with in-cell NMR spectroscopy

In-cell NMR spectroscopy has gained recent popularity since it provides means to analyze the conformational and functional properties of proteins inside living cells and at atomic resolution. High-resolution in-cell NMR spectroscopy was originally established in bacterial cells and based on a rationale that relies on protein over-expression and sample analysis within the same cellular environment. Here, we review in-cell NMR approaches in Xenopus laevis oocytes and evaluate potential future applications in other eukaryotic cell types. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.