Single-protein spin resonance spectroscopy under ambient conditions

Abstract

Single-protein spectroscopy The spin of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond is a highly sensitive magnetic-field sensor. Shi et al. used the NV center to detect a nitroxidelabeled protein through electron spin resonance under ambient conditions (see the Perspective by Hemmer and Gomes). The strength of the interaction and the details of the hyperfine interaction between the electron and nitrogen spin revealed the position and orientation of the spin label relative to the NV center. The findings also elucidate the dynamical motions of the protein on the diamond surface. Science , this issue p. 1135 ; see also p. 1072