Bruker
1.2 GHz Avance at UZH site of the Swiss High-Field NMR Facility.
Bruker has revealed that its 1.2 GHz Ascend Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer has been installed at the Swiss High-field NMR Facility. Operated by the University of Basel, ETH Zürich, and the University of Zürich, the instrument should enhance the research capabilities of various user groups, aiding with structural biology and macromolecular analysis.
The move doubles the number of 1.2 GHz NMR located in Switzerland, with the other located at ETH. The addition of the new 1.2 GHz NMR will aid the existing 800 MHz NMR in Basel, as well as other high-field NMRs, in applications including protein structure determination, measurement of protein dynamics, ligand binding studies, conformational fingerprinting, and the analysis of protein-protein interactions.
“The 1.2 GHz NMR enables the study of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in greater detail to define dynamic behaviour and conduct drug binding studies. The higher resolution and dispersion at 1.2 GHz enhance the study of interactions of drug candidates with GPCRs,” said Professor Oliver Zerbe from the University of Zürich. “Professor Ricarda Törner, who will join UZH in 2025, will greatly benefit from increased resolution in her studies of intrinsically disordered proteins. Similarly, Professor Sigel's group anticipates significant advantages for their RNA research.”
Stephan Grzesiek, Professor of Structural Biology at Biozentrum Basel, added, “Finally, we also have a highest-field NMR available for Swiss solution NMR. It will enable new NMR methods and explore the limits of detection in disease-relevant applications, such as GPCR signalling and cancer.”
Grzesiek’s colleague, Professor Sebastian Hiller from Biozentrum Basel, continued, “The 1.2 GHz NMR allows to study structures and dynamics of chaperone-client complexes at atomic resolution. These detailed descriptions will reveal biophysical laws governing chaperone function, with implications for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s.”
“We are excited to provide our scientists with this ultra-high field NMR. This collaboration will enable ground-breaking research in structural biology, furthering our understanding of complex biological systems,” concluded Detlef Günther, Professor for Trace Element and Micro Analysis, and Vice President of Research at ETH Zürich (2015-2022).