MRI-R2: Acquisition of a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer by Trinity University

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。凭借来自主要研究仪器（MRI）项目的奖金，三一大学化学系的Nancy S. Mills教授及其同事Jessica Hollenbeck、Laura Hunsicker-Wang和Adam R. Urbach将获得一台配备宽带探针的500 MHz核磁共振光谱仪。该仪器将用于支持以下研究活动：1)探测设计的锚蛋白重复序列的构象灵活性；2)研究含有聚酰胺配体的刚性DNA双链配合物框架内分子间相互作用的合作；3)通过化学修饰电位可滴定基团来表征修饰后的氨基酸，考察Rieske蛋白氧化还原行为的pH依赖性；4)锂反离子与反芳离子相互作用的评价。核磁共振（NMR）波谱是化学家用来研究分子结构的最有力的工具之一。它用于识别未知物质，表征分子内原子的特定排列，以及研究溶液中分子之间相互作用的动力学。获得最先进的核磁共振光谱仪是必不可少的化学家谁正在进行前沿研究。这些核磁共振研究的结果将对合成有机/无机化学、材料化学和生物化学产生影响。该仪器将成为教学和研究的一个组成部分。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program Professor Nancy S. Mills and colleagues Jessica Hollenbeck, Laura Hunsicker-Wang and Adam R. Urbach from the Department of Chemistry at Trinity University will acquire a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer equipped with a broad band probe. The instrument will be used to support research activities such as: 1) probing the conformational flexibility of designed ankyrin-repeat proteins; 2) studying the cooperation of intermolecular interactions within the framework of a rigid DNA duplex in complexes containing polyamide ligands; 3) examination of the pH dependence of the redox behavior of Rieske proteins through chemical modification of potential titratable groups to characterize modified amino acids; and 4) evaluation of interactions of lithium counterions with antiaromatic dianions.Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools available to chemists for the elucidation of the structure of molecules. It is used to identify unknown substances, to characterize specific arrangements of atoms within molecules, and to study the dynamics of interactions between molecules in solution. Access to state-of-the-art NMR spectrometers is essential to chemists who are carrying out frontier research. The results from these NMR studies will have an impact in synthetic organic/inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry and biochemistry. This instrument will be an integral part of teaching as well as research.