Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Biophysics

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Operational since the end of 2006, IRIC’s Structure and Biophysics Facility uses a variety of physical techniques to characterize biomolecules. The facility comprises two multi-user platforms: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Biophysics.

NMR Platform

IRIC's NMR platform provides a service in cutting-edge NMR spectroscopy with a specific emphasis on experiments for the determination of solution structures of proteins and other biomolecules.

NMR can be difficult and time consuming to interpret, especially for the generation of atomic resolution structures. Thus, in addition to routine maintenance of the spectrometer, we provide services in NMR acquisition and assistance in data analysis. We also offer users advice and training in:

• Expression, uniform labelling and purification of proteins
• Strategies for structure determination
• Processing and interpretation of NMR spectra
• Softwares to generate 3D structures

• Routine maintenance, including trouble-shooting and cryogen fills
• Acquisition of NMR spectra for the assignment and structure determination of proteins, these include (but are not restricted to):
• Spectra for backbone assignment; HNCACB, HNCA, CBCA(CO)NH, HNCOCA, HNCO, HBHA(CBCACO)NH, etc.
• Side-chain assignment; C(CO)NH-TOCSY, HC(CO)NH-TOCSY,
  HCCH-TOCSY
• Production of structural restraints; 2D, 3D, 4D ¹⁵N and ¹³C-edited NOESY's, HNHA, HNHB
• Determination of residual dipolar couplings in aligned media; IPAP-HSQC
• Advice on expression, uniform labelling and purification of proteins
• Advice and help on processing and interpretation of NMR spectra
• Access to and assistance in running software to analyze spectra and generate NMR structures including, NMRPipe, NMRView, ARIA, XPLOR, CNS, CYANA
• Access to in-house scripts to ease transfer of data to and from programmes
• In-house NMRview scripts to aid analysis
• Assistance using molecular visualization programmes and other structure analyzes programmes such as PYMOL, MOLMOL

Access to linux cluster comprising four dual processor servers and six dual processor workstations (opteron CPU's)

NMR Instrumentation

• 600 MHz Varian Unity Inova spectrometer with four RF channels capable of performing multiple resonance and advanced multidimensional (up to 4D) experiments
• 5mm triple resonance probe with triple axis pulsed field gradient coils, specifically for biomolecules, with ²H decoupling capability
• 5mm dual broadband probe with single axis pulsed field gradient coils
• HCN chiliprobe
• Linux cluster running off 4 dual processor servers and 6 dual processor workstations (opteron CPU's). Variety of softwares including XPLOR, ARIA, CYANA and CNS (all capable of running off multiple CPU's), and other visualization softwares (NMRView, NMRPipe, NMRDraw, pymol, molmol)

Biophysics Platform

This platform provides users with training and access to the CD, fluorimeter and analytical ultracentrifuge.

Instrumentation

• Beckman Coulter XL-I analytical ultracentrifuge
• CD Jasc
• 810 spectropolarimeter
• Fluorimeter Jasc
• FP-6500

Pricing

 Consult our current rates.

Contacts

For more information on IRIC's Structure and Biophysics Facility, please contact:

Michael Osborne
T + 514 343.6111 ext. 1.0534
michael.osborne@umontreal.ca

Katherine L. B. Borden, Ph.D.

T + 514 343.6291
katherine.borden@umontreal.ca

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