MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY Magn. Reson. Chem. 2004; 42: 87 Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/mrc.1363 Preface: Solid-state NMR on biological systems Solid-state NMR of biological complexes is becoming a powerful tool for the structural biologist. The diversity of systems which can be studied is extensive. In principle, there is no molecular weight limit for the complex to be investigated. The sample form is equally varied, ranging from macroscopically ordered to random, hydrated to dry. In particular, solid-state NMR can be used to supplement and refine other data to a resolution almost unsurpassed by any other technique. Recoupling methods can be used to determine distances of sub- ˚ A resolution, and chemical shifts yield electronic detail at precise locations, both of which enhance the usefulness of less high-resolution data in the perpetual need to aid mechanistic descriptions. As a very valuable advantage, solid-state NMR can give anisotropic detail in ordered systems to provide orientational descriptions at the molecular and atomic level, data which are often lost in other approaches. Finally, dynamic information is available, as with solution-state NMR, but over a wider range of time-scales (ps–ms) to emphasize the fact that dynamics and motion are crucial to function. All this information is forming a sound basis on which to build bioinformatics-driven models, which in turn drive further experimentation, progressing to the ultimate goal of describing function and mechanism. Despite this growth, review chapters and accounts of recent advances in biological solid-state NMR are scarce, not least because it is an emerging field—we are all frantically doing experiments. It is therefore timely that such a set of articles should be accumulated in this special issue to ensure that a base exists from which to move on to the next phase of development. Many journals have only a handful of papers each using this method, hence it is even more important that projects like the production of an issue such as this one are undertaken. The investment being attracted by this method worldwide reflects the general interest among the structural biology community and its importance—we are even stretching the manufacturers with our requirements and demands. Let us hope the field continues to grow and yield solutions to the tough unanswered questions at a level of unsurpassed detail, for some while to come. However, none of us using the methods must forget to make them accessible and comprehensible to the structural biology community with which we are engaged—this special issue of Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry will help towards addressing this need. Here, Anne Ulrich and Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy have drawn together a contemporary set of articles on the application of solid-state NMR to a range of biological systems. The topics range from the development of NMR methods to structural studies of a variety of amorphous biological solids such as lipid bilayers, membrane-associated peptides and proteins, as well as fibrous biopolymers. This special issue demonstrates the vitality of the area, which is maturing all the time. It is also rare to see such a growth in one method, especially with such a large number of young researchers and in such a short time span. Solid-state NMR is making its mark and a significant contribution to our knowledge base in structural biology—it is only a matter of time until many more people both in academia and the commercial sector are engaged in the activity, thereby making it more of a routine method in structural biology. Anthony Watts University of Oxford United Kingdom Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Preface: Solid-state NMR on biological systems

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MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRYMagn. Reson. Chem. 2004; 42: 87Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/mrc.1363

Preface: Solid-state NMR on biological systems

Solid-state NMR of biological complexes is becoming a powerful tool for the structural biologist. Thediversity of systems which can be studied is extensive. In principle, there is no molecular weight limit forthe complex to be investigated. The sample form is equally varied, ranging from macroscopically orderedto random, hydrated to dry. In particular, solid-state NMR can be used to supplement and refine other datato a resolution almost unsurpassed by any other technique. Recoupling methods can be used to determinedistances of sub-A resolution, and chemical shifts yield electronic detail at precise locations, both of whichenhance the usefulness of less high-resolution data in the perpetual need to aid mechanistic descriptions.As a very valuable advantage, solid-state NMR can give anisotropic detail in ordered systems to provideorientational descriptions at the molecular and atomic level, data which are often lost in other approaches.Finally, dynamic information is available, as with solution-state NMR, but over a wider range of time-scales(ps–ms) to emphasize the fact that dynamics and motion are crucial to function. All this informationis forming a sound basis on which to build bioinformatics-driven models, which in turn drive furtherexperimentation, progressing to the ultimate goal of describing function and mechanism.

Despite this growth, review chapters and accounts of recent advances in biological solid-state NMR arescarce, not least because it is an emerging field—we are all frantically doing experiments. It is thereforetimely that such a set of articles should be accumulated in this special issue to ensure that a base exists fromwhich to move on to the next phase of development. Many journals have only a handful of papers eachusing this method, hence it is even more important that projects like the production of an issue such as thisone are undertaken. The investment being attracted by this method worldwide reflects the general interestamong the structural biology community and its importance—we are even stretching the manufacturerswith our requirements and demands. Let us hope the field continues to grow and yield solutions to thetough unanswered questions at a level of unsurpassed detail, for some while to come. However, none ofus using the methods must forget to make them accessible and comprehensible to the structural biologycommunity with which we are engaged—this special issue of Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry will helptowards addressing this need.

Here, Anne Ulrich and Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy have drawn together a contemporary set of articles onthe application of solid-state NMR to a range of biological systems. The topics range from the developmentof NMR methods to structural studies of a variety of amorphous biological solids such as lipid bilayers,membrane-associated peptides and proteins, as well as fibrous biopolymers. This special issue demonstratesthe vitality of the area, which is maturing all the time. It is also rare to see such a growth in one method,especially with such a large number of young researchers and in such a short time span. Solid-state NMRis making its mark and a significant contribution to our knowledge base in structural biology—it is onlya matter of time until many more people both in academia and the commercial sector are engaged in theactivity, thereby making it more of a routine method in structural biology.

Anthony WattsUniversity of Oxford

United Kingdom