GlgS is a 7892-Da protein which is involved in glycogen biosynthesis in bacteria. We report the 1H, 15N and 13C NMR assignments of the backbone and side-chain resonances at 25 degrees C and pH 6.7 from two-dimensional homonuclear and three-dimensional heteronuclear NMR experiments. The secondary structure of the protein was determined using sequential and medium-range NOE correlations, vicinal 3J(NH-H alpha) coupling values and amide proton exchange rates. The secondary structure obtained is consistent with the secondary chemical shifts of 1H alpha, 13C alpha and 13C = O. It was found that the secondary structure of GlgS comprises two amphipathic helices (Asn10-Met21 and Glu39-Arg60), one short highly hydrophobic helix (Ile30-Val33), a short extended beta-strand-like fragment (Arg26-Asp29) and two type I beta-turns (His22-Gly25 and Thr34-Met37). An overall topology of GlgS is suggested based on long-range NOEs. The elements of secondary structure form a sandwich in which the beta-strand and the short hydrophobic helix are positioned between the two amphipathic helices.