Overview
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is a powerful technique that can provide information on molecular structure and dynamics at the atomic level. The naturally-occuring 1H isotope is the most sensitive NMR reporter. However, the very large number of 1H nuclei in macromolecules, can make the 1H-NMR spectrum intractable. Fortunately, with the advent of multi-dimensional techniques and methods in molecular biology to incorporateÌý13°ä,Ìý15N andÌý2H in biological macromolecules, it has become possible to probe the structure, dynamics andÌýbiochemistry of proteins, RNA, DNA, and carbohydrates with NMR. The Vanderbilt Biomolecular NMR center was created as a part of a transinstitutional initiative to develop structural biology on campus.
Mission Statement
The principal mission of the Biomolecular NMR Facility is to provide instrumentation for, and aid in obtaining data on the structure and dynamics of biological macromolecules. The Facility offers state-of-the-art instrumentation, training, software and assistance in designing experiments. We strive to help the Vanderbilt community realize the potential of biomolecular NMR and to work with NMR spectroscopists to stay current with the most recent experimental approaches.
Biomolecular NMR at Vanderbilt
Equipment Resources
The Biomolecular NMR Facility is locatedÌýat the heart of the Vanderbilt campus as part of the Stevenson Center complex. All instruments are housed in a dedicated NMR building.
Publication Acknowledgements
It is imperative that we acknowledge the shared instrumentation grants from NSF and NIH that enabled the purchase of our 900 and the complete upgrade of the rest of our Facility. Each user of the Biomolecular NMR Facility is required to include the following citation in any publication that has data acquired at the Facility.
“Supported in part by grants for NMR instrumentation from theÌýNSF-MRI (0922862), acquisition of a 900 MHz Ultra-High Field NMR spectrometer in 2009;ÌýNIH (S10 RR025677)Ìýfor console upgrades on all biomolecular NMR spectrometers in 2009;ÌýNIH (R35GM118089-04S1),ÌýaÌýVanderbilt Trans-Institutional Programs (TIPs)Ìýgrant to purchase the IVDr equipment in 2019,ÌýNIH supplement for the helium liquefier in 2019;ÌýNIH S10OD034276Ìýto replace the 800 MHz spectrometer in 2024, accompanied by Vanderbilt University matching funds.â€�
Small Molecule NMR and He Liquefier