Protein dynamics from solution NMR: theory and applications

Solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is unique in its ability to elucidate the details of atomic-level structural and dynamical properties of biological macromolecules under native-like conditions. Recent advances in NMR techniques and protein sample preparation now allow comprehensive investigation of protein dynamics over timescales ranging 14 orders of magnitude at nearly every atomic site. Thus, solution NMR is poised to reveal aspects of the physico-chemical properties that govern the ensemble distribution of protein conformers and the dynamics of their interconversion. We review these advances as well as their recent application to the study of proteins.