Conformational correlation functions, DRIS

The hydration dependence studies of the internal protein dynamics of hen egg white lysozyme by and H NMR relaxation have been presented. The relaxation times were quantitatively analysed by the well-established correlation function formalism and model-free approach. The obtained data was described by a model based on three types of motion having correlation times around 10 , 10 and 10 s. The slowest process was shown to originate from correlated conformational transitions between different energy minima. The intermediate process was attributed to librations within one energy minimum, and the fastest one was identified as a fast rotation of methyl protons around the symmetry axis of methyl groups. A comparison of the dynamic behaviour of lysozyme and polylysine obtained from a previous study revealed that in the dry state both biopolymers are rigid on both fast and slow time scales. Upon hydration, lysozyme and polylysine showed a considerable enhancement of the internal mobility. The side chain fragments of polylysine were more mobile than those of lysozyme, whereas the backbone of lysozyme was found to be more mobile than that of polylysine. 

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