Learn about Alzheimer: The molecular conformation of a toxic β‐amyloid oligomer structure was determined by NMR spectroscopy (see picture). The measurements show a N‐terminal β strand that controls the partitioning between oligomer and protofibril formation. Targeting the N‐terminus of the peptide neutralizes Aβ‐dependent neuronal dysfunctions. The data have important implications for understanding the structural basis of Alzheimer's disease.

We have carried out chemical shift correlation experiments with symmetry-based mixing sequences at high MAS frequencies and examined different strategies to simultaneously acquire 3D correlation spectra that are commonly required in the structural studies of proteins. The potential of numerically optimised symmetry-based mixing sequences and the simultaneous recording of chemical shift correlation spectra such as: 3D NCAC and 3D NHH with dual receivers, 3D NC'C and 3D C'NCA with sequential (13)C acquisitions, 3D NHH and 3D NC'H with sequential (1)H acquisitions and 3D CANH and 3D C'NH with broadband (13)C-(15)N mixing are demonstrated using microcrystalline samples of the β1 immunoglobulin binding domain of protein G (GB1) and the chicken α-spectrin SH3 domain.

It is demonstrated that the spatial proximity of (1)H nuclei in hydrogen bonded base-pairs in RNAs can be conveniently mapped via magic angle spinning solid state NMR experiments involving proton spin diffusion driven chemical shift correlation of low gamma nuclei such as the imino and amino nitrogens of nucleic acid bases. As different canonical and non-canonical base-pairing schemes encountered in nucleic acids are characterised by topologically different networks of proton dipolar couplings, different base-pairing schemes lead to characteristic cross-peak intensity patterns in such correlation spectra. The method was employed in a study of a 100 kDa RNA composed of 97 CUG repeats, or (CUG)(97) that has been implicated in the neuromuscular disease myotonic dystrophy. (15)N-(15)N chemical shift correlation studies confirm the presence of Watson-Crick GC base pairs in (CUG)(97).

Mehr Information über Alzheimer: Die Konformation einer toxischen oligomeren β‐Amyloid(Aβ)‐Struktur wurde mit NMR‐Spektroskopie aufgeklärt (siehe Bild). Die Messungen belegen, dass ein N‐terminaler β‐Strang entscheidet, ob Oligomere oder Protofibrillen gebildet werden. Durch Eingriff am N‐Terminus des Peptids können neuronale Aβ‐abhängige Fehlfunktionen ausgeschaltet werden. Alzheimer kann somit auf struktureller Basis verstanden werden.

RNA plays a central role in biological processes and exhibits a variety of secondary and tertiary structural features that are often stabilized via hydrogen bonds. The distance between the donor and acceptor nitrogen nuclei involved in NH...N hydrogen bonds in nucleic acid base pairs is typically in the range of 2.6-2.9 A. Here, we show for the first time that such spatial proximity between 15N nitrogen nuclei can be conveniently monitored via magic angle spinning solid state NMR on a uniformly 15N-labelled RNA. The presence of NH.N hydrogen bonds is reflected as cross-peaks between the donor and acceptor nitrogen nuclei in 2D 15N dipolar chemical shift correlation spectra. The RNA selected for this experimental study was a CUG repeat expansion implicated in the neuromuscular disease myotonic dystrophy. The results presented provide direct evidence that the CUG repeat expansion adopts a double-stranded conformation.