THE MOLECULAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE (MMR) CORE FACILITY

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。最近在核磁共振实验的设计和执行以及核磁共振数据的分析和解释方面的突破，创造了确定新型生物大分子（包括较大的蛋白质和大分子复合物）的溶液结构和行为的可能性。作为一种结构工具，核磁共振是x射线晶体学的有益补充。然而，当分子必须在溶液中研究时，它就变得必不可少了。此外，目前正在开发的核磁共振技术可以在原子细节上描述蛋白质和RNA折叠、蛋白质-蛋白质和蛋白质-核酸复合物形成以及结合诱导的构象变化等动态过程。另一方面，电子顺磁共振（EPR）已成为研究顺磁分子磁性的首选方法。原则上，这两种方法可以互补使用，以解决同一组问题，因为这两种技术都是基于分子的磁性。能够阐明生物大分子结构特性的磁共振实验特别需要配备最先进配件的可靠、维护良好的磁共振光谱仪（NMR和EPR）。良好的MMR设施将极大地促进杰克逊州立大学RCMI项目续签申请中描述的四个子项目中的三个项目的成功完成。此外，JSU MBRS/SCORE项目的三个当前和三个预期科目需要经常使用该核心设施。因此，MMR核心设施的长期目标是通过提供可靠的现代磁共振光谱仪和高质量的技术服务，加强和提高教职员工发展和专业培训的机会，这是JSU RCMI项目的总体目标。该项目的具体目标是：(1)为所有在研究中需要复杂结构测定的研究人员提供最先进的仪器；（二）对需要使用磁共振功率但不是仪器操作专家的用户，提供熟练的技术支持；（三）保持各光谱仪的最佳技术规格，保证其可用于研究工作；(4)通过提供额外的配件，如新的探头、变温装置、梯度装置等，扩大设备的现有能力。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Recent breakthroughs in the design and execution of NMR experiments and in the analysis and interpretation of NMR data have created the possibility of determining the solution structure and behavior of new categories of biological macromolecules, including larger proteins and macromolecular complexes. As a structural tool, NMR is a useful complement to X-ray crystallography. However, it becomes indispensable when molecules have to be studied in solution. Moreover, NMR techniques are now being developed that can describe, in atomic detail, dynamic processes such as protein and RNA folding, protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid complex formation, and binding-induced conformational changes. On the other hand, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has been the methods of choice for studying the magnetic properties of paramagnetic molecules. In principle, the two methods can be used complementarily to address the same set of problems as both techniques are based on the magnetic properties of the molecule. Magnetic resonance experiments capable of elucidating the structural properties of biological macromolecules have a particular need for reliable, well maintained magnetic resonance spectrometers (NMR and EPR) equipped with the state-of-the-arts accessories. A good MMR facility will dramatically facilitate the successful completion of three out of the four subprojects described in the renewal application of the RCMI program at Jackson State University. In addition, three current and three anticipated subjects of JSU¿s MBRS/SCORE program need to frequently use this core facility. Therefore, the long term objective of the MMR core facility is to strengthen and enhance opportunities for faculty development and professional training, the overall goal of the RCMI program at JSU, by providing reliable modern magnetic resonance spectrometers and high quality technical services. The specific aims of this project are: (1) to provide the state-of-the-arts instrumentation for all investigators who need sophisticated structural determinations in their research; (2) to offer proficient technical support for all users who need to use the power of magnetic resonance but are not experts in operating the instruments; (3) to maintain all spectrometers in their optimum technical specifications and guarantee their availability for research needs; and (4) to expand the facility's current capability by providing additional accessories, such as new probes, variable temperature unit, gradient unit etc.