[Nature network NMR forum] Going SAILing anytime soon? (2 replies)

[nmrlearner]

Going SAILing anytime soon? (2 replies)

Advances in NMR have now made it possible to study the dynamics and structures of very large systems using several different selective labeling methods. Proteins can be labeled uniformly with carbon, nitrogen and deuterium and selectively by amino acid type, by simple expression in bacteria. Simple in vitro modifications can be used to paramagnetically label residues to gain access to long-range information. Segmental labeling by domain is another long-promised area that is finally becoming more generally applicable. However the potentially most powerful labeling method for high-resolution structure determination is still considered by many to be technically very challenging, namely stereo-array isotope labeling, known as SAIL. While this technique has been shown to open the road to automated structure determination of large systems routine application is still not a reality due to the high cost of the SAIL amino acids and the required optimization of cell-free protein expression. Luckily centers such as the Center for Eukaryotic Structural Genomics at UW Madison offer expertise and training in this technology.

Are many peope interested in this technique? Has anyone tried cell-free expression in their lab? Do you have a dream project that you would like to apply this technology too? As NMR spectroscopists we are very lucky to have such useful NMR-active isotopes but the size limitation can hold some projects back. If someone says “that is too big, NMR can’t do it.” I think we should say “Yes, we can!”. If it’s worth it of course!

Any thoughts would be appreciated….



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