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Research Facility Highlight

The Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC), formerly known as the ASU Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, is located in the basement (L2-63) of the new Interdisciplinary Science and Technology building 1 (ISBT-1). The move to the new 4500 sq. ft. lab space was completed in October 2006.

The MRRC is directed by Dr. Jeffery Yarger. In October 2006, Dr. Brian Cherry was hired as the NMR lab manager; the position previously held by Dr. Ron Nieman. Dr. Greg Holland, assistant research professor, serves as a resident researcher and solid state NMR expert. In September, Milica Milovancevic was hired as an administrative assistant to the MRRC.

New to the facility are two state-of-the- art NMR spectrometers. A Varian VNMRS 800 MHz NMR spectrometer with dual solid/liquid capabilities, including the world’s fastest commercial magic angle spinning probe and a BioMAS probe optimized for studying biological solids. Additionally, this instrument is optimized for high resolution structural and dynamic elucidation of protein structure and complex synthetic compounds.

The second new instrument installed in the MRRC is a Varian VNMRS wide-bore 400 MHz NMR for solid state NMR studies. The focus of the experiments on this system will be for solid state NMR method development and long term structural and dynamic elucidation of biopolymers, nanomaterials, glass, lipid membranes, etc.

The Varian Inova 500MHz spectrometer has been fitted with an automatic sample changer. The primary task for this sample changer will be to facilitate remote NMR access for teaching chemistry lab courses from the Bateman Physical Sciences Building.

In December 2007, installation of a new Bruker Avance III console will begin to replace the original NMR console for the 400 MHz spectrometer. Additionally, three new NMR probes will be installed. To further advance the capabilities available for walkup NMR users a 5mm solution NMR probe equipped with automatic tuning and matching (ATM) will expand and enhance the number of experiments accessible to the general walkup user. In addition a new solid state NMR probe will be installed to provide basic solid state NMR to the general center user. Finally, a High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning (HRMAS) probe was purchased. This opens up a new realm of samples that can be studied by NMR in the MRRC. HRMAS is a technique ideally suited for the study of materials and compounds that blur the line between liquids and solids, e.g. lipid membranes, whole cells, and tissues.

The MRRC has full-time scientists with backgrounds in all areas of magnetic resonance. We encourage people to contact us if you have any technical questions about nuclear magnetic resonance or would like to start using NMR in your research.

Contact Information: Brian Cherry, Lab Manager, brcherry@asu.edu, Tel: (480) 965-3613, http://nmr.asu.edu