Nuclear Overhauser effects in aqueous solution as dynamic probes in short linear peptides

The possibility of obtaining interresidue NOEs from short linear peptides in aqueous solution has been investigated from an experimental point of view using peptides of various lengths (namely GGRA, LHRH and RNase S-peptide). It is shown that, provided that long (approximately 800 ms) NOESY mixing times are used, complete sets of sequential alpha N NOEs are obtainable. From the intensities and signs of the observed NOEs, the relative mobilities of different parts of the polypeptide chain can be determined.