Small, but powerful and attractive: 19F in biomolecular NMR.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a versatile tool for probing structure, dynamics, folding, and interactions at atomic resolution. While naturally occurring magnetically active isotopes, such as 1H, 13C, or 15N, are most commonly used in biomolecular NMR, with 15N and 13C isotopic labeling routinely employed at the present time, 19F is a very attractive and sensitive alternative nucleus, which offers rich information on biomolecules in solution and in the solid state. This perspective summarizes the unique benefits of solution and solid-state 19F NMR spectroscopy for the study of biological systems. Particular focus is on the most recent studies and on future unique and important potential applications of fluorine NMR methodology.