This protocol describes running a 3D (H)CCH-COSY pulse sequence optimized for the aliphatic spectral region. It uses semi-constant time (SCT) evolution in both indirect 13C dimensions, and can be collected with a standard or a non-uniform ( NUS) sampling scheme. This produces a 3D phase-sensitive dataset that correlates covalently bonded aliphatic 1H and 13C spins via 1JHC and 1JCC couplings.
Dimensions F3(1H) and F2(13C) represent an HSQC pair, while F1(13C) is the COSY dimension that exhibits multiple 13C lines for a given 13C HSQC peak. 3D (H)CCH-COSY scheme is usually preferred over a related 3D H(C)CH-COSY experiment, since in the latter case the peak pattern is similar to the one observed in 3D 13C-edited NOESY.
3D (H)CCH-COSY is used for resonance assignment of aliphatic side-chain 1H and 13C spins, combined with 2D 13C HSQC, 3D (H)CCH-TOCSY, 3D 13C-edited NOESY, H(CCCO)NH-TOCSY, and (H)C(CCO)NH-TOCSY. The CA and CB shifts from the backbone resonance assignment stage along with HA and HB shifts from 3D HBHA(CO)NH are used to bootstrap the side-chain assignment process.
(H)CCH-COSY has overall slightly better sensitivity than (H)CCH-TOCSY, and can be used to distinguish covalently bound 13C spin pairs from remote correlations. (H)CCH-COSY is useful for resonance assignment of Thr side-chains, where (H)CCH-TOCSY performance may be limited by large 13C chemical shift spread. Large aliphatic side chains, such as Lys, Leu, Ile, Arg and Pro, may be difficult to confidently assign with (H)CCH-COSY alone, and it may be supplemented with aliphatic (H)CCH-TOCSY.
Required isotope labeling: U-15N,13C or U-13C. Not suitable for samples with additional 2H labeling due to starting with aliphatic 1H polarization.
Optimal MW is ≤ 25 kDa. Side-chain resonance assignment of larger systems is usually performed using selectively protonated labeling on perdeuterated background (e.g. ILV-methyl) and specialized NMR experiments.
Field strength preference: High B0 fields are preferred for better signal dispersion and minimizing strong coupling artifacts.
It uses a pulseprogram 'hcchcoctgp3d2_ali.nan' modified from the original Topspin version.