Solid-state NMR spectroscopic trends for supramolecular assemblies and protein aggregates

Solid-state NMR is able to generate structural data on sample preparations that are explicitly non-crystalline. In particular, for amyloid fibril samples, which can comprise significant degrees of sample disorder, solid-state NMR has been used very successfully. But also solid-state NMR studies of other supramolecular assemblies that have resisted assessment by more standard methods are being performed with increasing ease and biological impact, many of which are briefly reviewed here. New technical trends with respect to structure calculation, protein dynamics and smaller sample amounts have reshaped the field of solid-state NMR recently. In particular, proton-detected approaches based on fast Magic-Angle Spinning ( MAS) were demonstrated for crystalline systems initially. Currently, such approaches are being expanded to the above-mentioned non-crystalline targets, the characterization of which can now be pursued with sample amounts on the order of a milligram. In this Trends article, I am giving a brief overview about achievements of the last years as well as the directions that the field has been heading into and delineate some satisfactory perspectives for solid-state NMR's future striving.