Bruker Corporation
Bruker installs 1.2 GHz NMR at KBSI
Bruker Corporation has successfully installed the first 1.2 GHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer in the Asia-Pacific region. The Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI) accepted Bruker’s Avance system in the hopes of furthering molecular, cell biology and disease research by ultra-high field NMR.
“When using the 1.2 GHz instrument, the opportunities for small molecule research made me speechless. In particular, the structural elucidation of natural products will be greatly beneficial,” said Dr Hae-Kap Cheong, Manager of the UHF NMR system at KBSI.
Dr Donghan Lee, Scientific Researcher at KBSI, added: “As Richard Feynman said, ‘Everything that living things do can be understood in terms of the jiggling and wiggling of atoms.’ The function of biomolecules can be understood by their dynamic nature. In particular, the functional conformation of biomolecules may be hidden because of their dynamic nature. With the 1.2 GHz instrument, the detection of these conformations enables the unprecedented identification of functional conformations.”
By adopting an NMR spectrometer, KBSI can enhance its capabilities within biomolecular structure analysis and drug development to expand its protein NMR research. With improved levels of sensitivity and resolution, researchers will be able to observe functional molecular dynamics and structural rearrangements in real time.
Applications where the KBSI hopes to utilise its new system:
- Studying biomolecular structures.
- Development of new drugs.
- Research in biomedical multiomics, bioimaging, and the development of diagnostic methods for infectious diseases.
- Will hopefully allow the company to extend advancements in medical research, materials science, and other critical fields.
“The application of the 1.2 GHz instrument includes mechanistic understanding, in particular, the mode-of-action of drug-target binding and molecular communication,” said Dr Kyoung-Seok Ryu, Director of the Biopharmaceutical Research Centre at KBSI. “Furthermore, studying intrinsically disordered or partially disordered proteins with the 1.2 GHz NMR instrument can elucidate the functional mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration.”
Dr Falko Busse, President of Bruker BioSpin, concluded: “We are thrilled to see the 1.2 GHz NMR become a key part of KBSI’s research infrastructure. Grateful for the trust from KBSI, we look forward to the scientific advancements that will emerge. We are pleased to offer a tour of the 1.2 GHz NMR at KBSI during the International Conference on Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems.”