Characterization of the mobility of various chemical groups in the purple membrane of halobacterium halobium by 13C, 31P and 2H solid state N M R

Lyophilized purple membrane sheets have been investigated by C-13- and P-31-cross polarization/magic angle spinning N M R spectroscopy. The high-resolution C-13 spectrum and its non-quaternary suppression version indicate fast protein side-chain motions but a rigid backbone structure on a time scale of roughly < 0.001 to 0.01 s. Three components of exchangeable hydrogen have been detected by deuterium N M R. The mean exchange time of the peptide hydrogens must be longer than 1 μs. The medium component is attributed to mobile side-chains. In addition a narrow line has been observed which is assigned to the residual hydration water.