NMR

System

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is a highly versatile tool that allows biochemists and structural biologists to probe the nano-environment of atoms in small molecules, as well as macromolecular proteins and nucleic acids. A key feature of NMR is that samples are studied in aqueous solutions at physiological pH and salt conditions, and it is the only technique available that can provide atomic resolution structures of proteins and nucleic acids in their native solution states. NMR can also probe structural dynamics and conformational transitions in macromolecules on time scales ranging from picoseconds to minutes, making it particularly useful for the study of intrinsically disordered proteins, as well as pathways of protein folding and the effect of solution conditions on protein structure. NMR is a tool of choice to map sites of interaction between macromolecules, or between proteins and small ligands. Indeed, NMR is a primary tool used to identify lead compounds that may eventually develop into therapeutic drugs.

核磁共振实验室包括一个皇冠™600 MHz的侮蔑rashield™ NMR spectrometer with a Cryoprobe that can collect data on dilute liquid samples and under high salt conditions. Researchers at UT-Houston are encouraged to contact the NMR Manager to discuss projects that can benefit from NMR experiments.

The Avance™ 600 NMR spectrometer has a 54mm bore Ultrashield™ magnet with electronics capable of monitoring 4 channels. Available probes include the following:

• Cryoprobe TXI (Inverse Triple Resonance) probe (5 mm sample diameter) for observation of¹H while decoupling¹³C and¹⁵N, including²D lock with actively shielded Z-gradient coil. Temperature range +10 to +60 °C. Signal to noise is¹H>6000:1 (0.1% ethyl benzene)
• TXI (Inverse Triple Resonance) probe (5 mm sample diameter) for observation of¹H while decoupling¹³C and¹⁵N, including²D lock with actively shielded X, Y, and Z-gradient coils. Temperature range -100 to +70 °C. Signal to noise is¹H>1000:1 (0.1% ethyl benzene).
• Inverse broadband (BBI) probe (5 mm sample diameter),¹H observe with broadband decoupling coil tunable from¹⁰⁹Ag to³¹P. Temperature range is -150 to + 180 °C. Signal to noise is¹H>1100:1 (0.1% ethyl benzene).
• Inverse detect¹H triple resonance gradient probe (5 mm sample diameter) with²D lock. The X-channel of the probe is double tuned to¹³C and³¹P. Temperature range is -60 to +100 °C. Signal to noise is¹H>1100:1 (0.1% ethyl benzene)