A high-resolution HCANH experiment with enhanced sensitivity via multiple quantum line narrowing.

We report a 3D constant-time HCANH experiment (CTSL-HCANH) that uses the slower relaxation of multiple-quantum coherence to increase sensitivity and provides high C(α) resolution. In this experiment the H(α) of the (H(α), C(α)) multiple quanta are selectively spin locked, so that H(α) chemical shift evolution and (1) H-(1)H J-dephasing become ineffective during the relatively long delay needed for C(α) to N coherence transfer. As compared to an HCANH experiment that uses C(α) single-quantum coherence, an average enhancement of 20% was observed on calmodulin in complex with the binding domain of the transcription factor SEF2-1. Compared to CBCANH the signal intensity is approximately twice as good. The favorable relaxation properties of multiple quanta, together with the outstanding C(α) resolution, make the experiment a very good complement to CBCANH and CBCA(CO)NH for sequential assignment of larger proteins for which deuteration is not yet necessary.