Genetic insertion of nuclear spin labels in the lac repressor.

A general strategy for the insertion of nuclear spin labels throughout the sequence of a protein is illustrated with the Escherichia coli lac repressor. Examples are shown where the 19F nucleus is incorporated using 3-fluorotyrosine, as well as the selective insertion of additional protons. These selectively inserted nuclei give additional resonances in the respective NMR spectra that can be used to probe the structure and function of the proteins.