This study aims to investigate the g xx heterogeneity of the g-tensor commonly observed in high-field electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of nitroxide spin-labeled sites in proteins. This heterogeneity is addressed in terms of spin-label populations characterized by different polarity and H-bonding properties of the nitroxide micro-environment. The g xx value for each population is determined from the fit of continuous-wave high-field spectra obtained at 95, 275 and 360 GHz with a series of nitroxide spin-labels covalently attached to different sites in both membrane and water-soluble proteins.

On the basis of experiments at 275 GHz, we reconsider the dependence of the continuous-wave EPR spectra of nitroxide spin-labeled protein sites in sensory- and bacteriorhodopsin on the micro-environment. The high magnetic field provides the resolution necessary to disentangle the effects of hydrogen bonding and polarity. In the gxx region of the 275 GHz EPR spectrum, bands are resolved that derive from spin-label populations carrying no, one or two hydrogen bonds. The gxx value of each population varies hardly from site to site, significantly less than deduced previously from studies at lower microwave frequencies. The fractions of the populations vary strongly, which provides a consistent description of the variation of the average gxx and the average nitrogen-hyperfine interaction Azz from site to site. These variations reflect the difference in the proticity of the micro-environment, and differences in polarity contribute marginally. Concomitant W-band ELDOR-detected NMR experiments on the corresponding nitroxide in perdeuterated water resolve population-specific nitrogen-hyperfine bands, which underlies the interpretation for the proteins.

Taking advantage of the improved spectral resolution of high-field electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at 95 GHz/3.4 Tas compared to conventional X-band EPR (9.5 GHz/0.34 T), detailed information on the polarity profile in a protein-protein interface is obtained. Nitroxide spin label side chains are introduced at positions 88 to 94 in the AS-1 sequence of the membrane adjacent HAMP domain of the transducer protein, NpHtrII, which is reconstituted in complex with sensory rhodopsin, NpSRII from Natronobacterium pharaonis. Position-dependent variations of the values of the nitroxide magnetic tensor components g.~, and A.: suggest that the spin label side chains at positions 88 to 93 of AS-1 are located between a hydrophobic anda hydrophilic microenvironment. The observed periodicity of the polarity properties of the respective spin label microenvironment agrees with an ~t-helical secondary structure of this part of AS-I and validates a recently published molecular model which locates residues 88 and 91 in the interface between helices F and G of NpSRII and AS-1 of NpHtrII close to the cytoplasmic lipid-water interface.

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