Characterizing protein dynamics with NMR R1ρ relaxation experiments

Abstract

The measurement of R1ρ, the longitudinal relaxation rate constant in the rotating frame, is one of the few available methods to characterize the μs-ms functional dynamics of biomolecules. Here, we focus on 15N R1ρ experiments for protein NH groups. We present protocols for both on- and off-resonance 15N R1ρ measurements needed for relaxation dispersion studies, and describe the data analysis for extracting kinetic and thermodynamic parameters characterizing the motional processes.