Molecular motions monitored by NMR relaxation – a conservative approach

L. Žídek, P. Kadeřávek, V. Zapletal

NCBR, Faculty of Science and CEITEC, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic

lzidek@mail.muni.cz

The aim of the lecture is to explain how NMR relaxation can describe motions of molecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, or saccharides with an atomic resolution. The basic principles of NMR relaxation studies will be reviewed . Rather than trying to provide rigorous description, general ideas will be described. Attention will be paid to the limits of applicability of various manners of interpretation of the NMR relaxation rates. In this context, a special attention will be paid to the methods of spectral density mapping, applicable to studies of molecules whose motions are difficult to describe by particular physical models (e.g. disordered proteins and other highly flexible molecules).