Adenylate kinase reversibly catalyzes the conversion of ATP plus AMP to two ADPs. This essential catalyst is present in every cell, and the Escherichia coli protein is often employed as a model enzyme. Our aim is to use the E. coli enzyme to understand dry protein structure and protection. Here, we report the expression, purification, steady-state assay, NMR conditions and 1H, 13C, 15N backbone resonance NMR assignments of its C77S variant. These data will also help others utilize this prototypical enzyme.