Measurement of distances with the Double Electron-Electron Resonance (DEER) experiment at X-band frequencies using a pair of nitroxides as spin labels is a popular biophysical tool for studying function-related conformational dynamics of proteins. The technique is intrinsically highly precise and can potentially access the range from 1.5 to 6-10 nm. However, DEER performance drops strongly when relaxation rates of the nitroxide spin labels are high and available material quantities are low, which is usually the case for membrane proteins reconstituted into liposomes. This leads to elevated noise levels, very long measurement times, reduced precision, and a decrease of the longest accessible distances. Here we quantify the performance improvement that can be achieved at Q-band frequencies (34.5 GHz) using a high-power spectrometer. More than an order of magnitude gain in sensitivity is obtained with a homebuilt setup equipped with a 150 W TWT amplifier by using oversized samples. The broadband excitation enabled by the high power ensures that orientation selection can be suppressed in most cases, which facilitates extraction of distance distributions. By varying pulse lengths, Q-band DEER can be switched between orientationally non-selective and selective regimes. Because of suppression of nuclear modulations from matrix protons and deuterons, analysis of the Q-band data is greatly simplified, particularly in cases of very small DEER modulation depth due to low binding affinity between proteins forming a complex or low labelling efficiency. Finally, we demonstrate that a commercial Q-band spectrometer can be readily adjusted to the high-power operation.

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In memoriam Professor Hanns FischerThis review discusses the application of pulse EPR to the characterization of disordered systems, with an emphasis on samples containing transition metals. Electron nuclear double-resonance (ENDOR), electron-spin-echo envelope-modulation (ESEEM), and double electron-electron resonance (DEER) methodologies are outlined. The theory of field modulation is outlined, and its application is illustrated with DEER experiments. The simulation of powder spectra in EPR is discussed, and strategies for optimization are given. The implementation of this armory of techniques is demonstrated on a rich variety of chemical systems: several porphyrin derivatives that are found in proteins and used as model systems, otherwise highly reactive aminyl radicals stabilized with electron-rich transition metals, and nitroxide-copper-nitroxide clusters. These examples show that multi-frequency continuous-wave (CW) and pulse EPR provides detailed information about disordered systems. Helvetica Chimica Acta -Vol. 89 (2006) 2495 1. Introduction. -Electron-paramagnetic-resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is a powerful method for studying paramagnetic samples, i.e., systems containing one or more unpaired electrons. EPR Spectroscopy can provide unique information on the electronic structure since the magnetic parameters such as g values, hyperfine couplings, and nuclear quadrupole interactions are directly related to the electronic wavefunction and the configuration of the surrounding nuclei. The g values and, for species with several unpaired electrons (S >