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Chemistry of Spin Labeling

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Encyclopedia of Biophysics

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Definition

Spin labeling is a methodology to introduce stable paramagnetic centers into macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, and polymers) enabling the application of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to study the structure and dynamics of these molecules in vitro and under in vivo conditions.

Introduction

Since the seminal work of Wayne L. Hubbell and coworkers (Altenbach et al. 1989) site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) in combination with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has become an efficient and increasingly popular tool for investigations of the structural and dynamic properties of biomolecules. This methodology can be applied to soluble molecules like proteins and nucleic acids, as well as to membrane proteins. Remarkably, the size and complexity of the system under investigation is almost arbitrary. Continuous wave (cw) EPR spectroscopy of molecules derivatized with nitroxide labels yields information about the label side chain mobility,...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Osnabrueck, Osnabrueck, Germany

    Johann P. Klare

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  1. Johann P. Klare
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Correspondence to Johann P. Klare .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Leicester MRC Centre, Leicester, UK

    Gordon Roberts

  2. Dept Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Anthony Watts

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Physics, University of Osnabruk, Osnabruk, Germany

    H. J Steinhoff

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Klare, J.P. (2023). Chemistry of Spin Labeling. In: Roberts, G., Watts, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Biophysics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35943-9_585-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35943-9_585-2

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-35943-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35943-9

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Chemistry of Spin Labeling
    Published:
    09 November 2022

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35943-9_585-2

  2. Original

    Chemistry of Spin Labeling
    Published:
    18 August 2022

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35943-9_585-1

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