American Chemical Society, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 5(135), p. 1641-1644, 2013
DOI: 10.1021/ja312553b
Full text: Download
Using the 480 kDa iron-storage protein complex, apoferritin, as an example, we demonstrate that sizable dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enhancements can be obtained on sedimented protein samples. In sedimented solute DNP (SedDNP), the biradical polarizing agent is co-sedimented with the protein, but in the absence of a glass forming agent. We observe DNP enhancement factors ε>40 at a magnetic field of 5 T and temperatures below 90 K, indicating that the protein sediment state is “glassy” and suitable to disperse the biradical polarizing agent upon freezing. In contrast, frozen aqueous solutions of apoferritin yield ε ≈ 2. Results of SedDNP are compared to those obtained from samples prepared using the traditional glass forming agent glycerol. Collectively, these and results from previous investigations suggest that the sedimented state can be functionally described as a “microcrystalline glass” and in addition provides a new approach for preparation of samples for DNP experiments.