Biomolecular NMR Facility

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 incorporate ¹³C, ¹⁵N and ²H in biological macromolecules, it has become possible to probe the structure, dynamics and biochemistry 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.

Click on the picture to see our 12min introductory video:

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.

Equipment

900 MHz NMR Spectrometer with CPTCI probe

800 MHz NMR Spectrometer with CPTCI probe

600 MHz NMR Spectrometer with CPTCI probe and SampleJet

600 MHz NMR Spectrometer with BBI probe and SampleJet

For more instrument specific and operational information please see this link.

The Biomolecular NMR Facility at Vanderbilt received their 900MHz NMR spectrometer on May 7^th 2011.

For more information see the article in the VU Reporter
(click on picture)

Watch a video of the magnet delivery
(click on picture, 15min)

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 the NSF-MRI (0922862), acquisition of a 900 MHz Ultra-High Field NMR spectrometer in 2009; NIH (S10 RR025677) for console upgrades on all biomolecular NMR spectrometers in 2009; NIH (R35GM118089-04S1), NIH supplement for the helium liquefier in 2019; NIH S10OD034276 to replace the 800 MHz spectrometer in 2024, accompanied by Vanderbilt University matching funds.”

Questions or concerns may be addressed directly to:

Michael P. Stone, Scientific Director, or Markus Voehler, Director of Operations