Director: Amar Natarajan, PhD
Manager: Ed Ezell, MS
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for basic research that improves our knowledge at the molecular level. It also plays an important role in drug discovery, ranging from small molecule characterization and protein structure-based drug design to small molecule library screening, all based on established 1D, 2D, and 3D NMR experiments such as HSQC (heteronuclear single-quantum coherence spectroscopy). At the end of 2007, the UNMC Eppley Institute NMR Facility consists of three spectrometers (400-600 MHz).
The Bruker Avance III 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer as of June 2019, is equipped with a multi-nuclear observe broad band (BBFO) 5mm NMR probe for liquid state samples. The spectrometer is also equipped with an automated 24 position “SampleCase” robotic sample changer for unattended data acquisition and improved sample throughput.
The Bruker Avance-III HD 500 MHz NMR instrument (upgraded in 2015) is available for walk-up chemical analysis. It has two radio frequency (rf) channels (plus 2H lock) and has a 5-mm Z-axis pulse-field gradient (PFG) broad band tunable probe installed. This setup allows proton (1H) and carbon (13C) spectra to be acquired on a routine basis, while phosphorous (31P) and fluorine (19F) spectra can be obtained with the facility manager’s assistance. Other magnetically active nuclei can be observed with varying degrees of success.
The Bruker Avance-III HD 600 MHz instrument (upgraded in 2015) is dedicated to the studies of structure and dynamics of small proteins and their interactions with a variety of ligands, including lipids, drugs, DNA, sugar, and partner proteins. It has four rf (radio frequency) channels (1H, 13C, 15N, and 2H for lock and decoupling). A z-axis PFG, inverse detect triple-resonance cryogenic (cold) probe is usually in service. A 5mm broad band multi-nuclear probe is also available if the cryoprobe is out of service. Thus, this machine is fully equipped for modern multidimensional multinuclear NMR experiments such as 2D HSQC, 3D HNCO, HNCACB, CBCA(CO)NH, C(CO)NH, and 4D NOESY experiments.
These NMR machines provide essential support to various grants of investigators and enable excellent training to students with an interest in NMR. Off-campus users are also encouraged to use our facility. The facility is supported by a CORE grant from National Cancer Institute (NIH) as well as the Nebraska Research Initiative (NRI). Facility operational costs are partially covered via minimal charge-backs to the users. Rate sheet
For further information about this facility or collaborative NMR studies, contact Ed Ezell at 402-559-4174 or Dr. Natarajan at 402-559-3793.