Facilities Center for NMR of Biological Solids.

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The combination of single- and double-cross polarization with magic-angle spinning has resulted in high-resolution 13C and 15N NMR spectra of a variety of biological solids. Recently developed versions of these experiments will be used to identify cross-links in insect exoskeleton and plant cell walls, to establish the mechanism of drug action on bacterial cell-wall metabolism, to identify binding sites in immobilized enzymes, to measure the dynamics and conformational flexibility within the active sites of enzymes, to measure the mobility of multiple sites in lipid chains in the gel state without specific labeling of the lipids, and to monitor the catabolism of drugs, herbicides, and pesticides in mammalian tissue nondestructively. Many of these new applications will involve NMR techniques that have been developed in this laboratory. The capabilities of this laboratory will be expanded by building a new double-cross polarization 1H-13C-l5N solids spectrometer with operating characteristics specifically tailored to the needs of the planned new applications. This spectrometer, along with three existing solids spectrometers, will comprise a new NSF Biological Facilities Center for the NMR analysis of biological solids. The combined expertise represented in this Center is unique and multidisciplinary. Previously the Principal Investigator has had good collaborative efforts, which are likely to continue; and his laboratory is at the forefront of the develoment of this sophisticated technology. He is firmly committed to wider applications among the biological community. Potential applications range from instrument development, to chemical physics, biology/medicine, and to biotechnology.