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Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) provides a means of investigating the
structure and dynamics of biologically important macromolecules without the
necessity of crystallization. This is important for the investigation of
biomolecule function in an environment as close as possible to physiological
conditions. Such investigations can be important stepping-stones to the
understanding of disease processes and the design of agents that can combat
disease. Application of NMR has, however, been restricted to smaller
systems by the lack of resolution, sensitivity, and appropriate measurable
parameters. Higher fields, and new experiments that exploit these fields,
can greatly extend applicability of NMR based research.
The Southeast Collaboratory for Biomolecular NMR (SECNMR) was funded in July of 2002
by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Georgia
Research Alliance to provide for sharing of both equipment and ideas among
an initial group of researchers from 17 institutions in the Southeast region
of the country. The centerpiece of the facility is an instrument (expected
2004) that operates with a magnetic field of 21.1T. This corresponds to
a proton NMR operating frequency equal to 900 MHz. The productivity of
the instrument will be enhanced by computational and internet communication
resources that allow remote use and broad sharing of resulting developments.
Communication is organized around an initial five areas of research that
include, method development, dynamics, nucleic acids, membrane proteins, and
large assemblies. Target areas for future expansion include carbohydrates
and metallo-proteins. Operating procedures are being developed by a
collaboratory council composed of focus group coordinators and institutional
representatives.
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