MRI: Acquisition of a 500 MHz NMR to Enhance Research and Training

在重大研究仪器计划（MRI）的支持下，来自犹他州州立大学的丽莎Berreau教授和同事Cheng-Wei Chang，Alvan Hengge，Yujie Sun和Jixun Zhan将获得500 MHz NMR光谱仪。一般来说，核磁共振（NMR）光谱是化学家用来阐明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，并研究溶液中分子之间相互作用的动力学。对于从事前沿研究的化学家来说，使用最先进的NMR光谱仪是必不可少的。这些NMR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。该仪器将成为犹他州州立大学、美国农业部有毒植物研究实验室和犹他州大学尤因塔盆地区域校区的博士后、研究生和本科生教学和研究的一个组成部分。该奖的目的是加强各级研究和教育，特别是在以下领域：（a）推进代谢工程和合成生物学;（B）了解金属在生物系统中的作用，开发生物用途试剂;（c）开发具有有用生物活性的含碳水化合物的新分子;（d）开发具有生物活性的新分子。（d）了解生物系统中磷酸酯水解反应的细节;（e）开发与太阳能生产有关的水分解反应的新催化剂;（f）查明有毒植物毒素;（g）推进天然产品的合成。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) and support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation Program (CRIF), and the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), Professor Lisa Berreau from Utah State University and colleagues Cheng-Wei Chang, Alvan Hengge, Yujie Sun and Jixun Zhan will acquire a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer. In general, 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 by postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate students at Utah State University, the USDA Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, and the regional USU campus at the Uintah Basin. It will also impact outreach activities involving minority student populations.The award is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels, especially in areas such as (a) advancing metabolic engineering and synthetic biology; (b) understanding the roles of metals in biological systems and developing reagents for biological use; (c) developing new carbohydrate-containing molecules with useful biological activities; (d) understanding the details of phosphate ester hydrolysis reactivity in biological systems; (e) developing new catalysts for water splitting reactivity with relevance to solar energy production; (f) identifying poisonous plant toxins; and (g) advancing natural products synthesis.