NMR Core

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

Summary

The WCM CLC Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Core Facility provides state-of-the-art biological and chemical nuclear magnetic resonance resources and services, and expertise in their analytical, structural and biochemical applications, to the Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) community and to outside investigators.  Services include sample preparation, NMR data collection and data analysis.  The core facility provides consultation on project design and data analysis, and offers seminars, training and educational workshops.

 

Overview

Background: NMR is an essential component of structural biology since it is uniquely suited to examine changes in the conformation, structure and mobility of biomolecules using solution conditions closely approximating the biological environment.  NMR is critical for chemical analysis and synthetic chemistry, is essential for characterizing and verifying chemical compounds.  Basic NMR applications can be employed for assessing sample purity, chemical changes, binding events and the effects of mutations. More involved multidimensional NMR applications can be implemented for protein structure determination and dynamics investigations.        

History: The NMR Core Facility was founded in 1999 to support structural biology, biochemistry, analytical and medicinal chemistry.The core became part of the WCM Core Laboratories Center (CLC) in 2015. Since this time the NMR Core has expanded four instruments with purchases made possible through NIH S10 instrumentation awards and institutional support.     

Location: The NMR Core Facility has NMR instruments sited at two locations: Citigroup Biomedical Imaging center, 516 East 72nd Street S152, New York, NY, and within the Belfer Research Building at 413 East 69th Street BB000.53, New York, NY. 

WCM Core Laboratories Center (CLC): The WCM CLC was established in 2015.  The CLC includes core facilities that offer resources and services in genomics and epigenomics, proteomics and metabolomics, flow cytometry, imaging (e.g., optical and electron microscopy, high content screening, MRI, PET/CT, and ultrasound), synthetic and analytical chemistry, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

Open to all: The resources and services of the core facility are open to all investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University and Cornell-affiliated institutions.  The facility also provides services to external investigators at both academic institutions and commercial enterprises.

Services

Chemical Analysis

1D and 2D NMR for chemical analysis to confirm chemical composition, characterization of reaction products, investigation of chemical impurities and chemical quantification.

NMR Data Collection and Analysis

The core provides state-of-the-art methods for collection and analysis for NMR studies of protein and peptides for analyzing structure, stability and dynamics. Projects can range from rapid 1D analysis of protein structure, or molecular characterization, to measurement of molecular size and protein dynamics, and heteronuclear NMR assignments for investigation of structural change and molecular binding interactions.

Kinetic/ Thermodynamic Analysis

Examine arrays of conditions for chemical reactions and protein stability/solubility. The core also offers the capability to test arrays of temperature and conditions characterize chemical, biochemical and protein stability.

Biomolecular Structural Analysis

Sequence specific NMR assignment of protein and biological molecule. Measurement of structural constraints, analysis of protein dynamics and stability. Assessment of molecular size by diffusion NMR.

Ligand Binding

Characterization and analysis of ligand binding to proteins, nucleic acids and membranes.

NMR Data Generation and Analysis

Available commercial and academic software for NMR data processing and spectral analysis.

Consultation

The core offers consultation on NMR applications, including project design, sample preparation, data collection methods and data analysis.

Training

Users are trained to independently collect NMR data, operate the spectrometers and analyze NMR data. Training is carried out in small groups upon request.

Resources

  • Bruker Avance III HD 600 MHz (features include protein NMR applications; cryogenic probe 7000:1 1H S/N)
  • Bruker Avance III HD 500 MHz (features include automated NMR runs; daytime walk up use; small molecular analysis; fragment based drug discovery; protein and peptide studies; cryogenic probe  for 1H, 19F, and 13C detection). 
  • Bruker Avance III 500 MHz (features small molecular characterization; broad band 1H, 11B, 13C, 19F, 31P  detection). 
  • Agilent Varian Inova 600 MHz (features include biomolecular NMR applications; cryogenic probe 4000:1 1H S/N).

Contact Information

W. Clay Bracken, Ph.D.
Core Director, CLC Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Core Facility
(212) 746-6473
wcb2001@med.cornell.edu

More Information

For more information about services and pricing, to register as a user of the core, to submit samples, to schedule time on the instruments, and/or to arrange for training, please go to the WCM iLab portal at http://wcmc.corefacilities.org.

Contact Information

Core Contact: W. Clay Bracken, PhD

Email: wcb2001@med.cornell.edu

Phone: (212) 746-6473