Solid-state NMR

Magic-angle sample spinning solid-state NMR (MAS SSNMR) spectroscopy is able to elucidate atomic-resolution structure and dynamics of not only crystalline, but also insoluble and/or amorphous biomacromolecular systems that is difficult to study with solution-NMR or X-ray crystallography, two conventional structure analysis tools.

Important classes of samples studied by MAS SSNMR include insoluble amyloid fibrils that are related to Alzheimer/prion diseases and membrane proteins that transduce signals or ions/hormones across lipid membrane, both playing crucial role in pathogenic or functional cellular biological processes.

MAS SSNMR techniques are still in a steep progress, and often times we need to invent new technologies/methodologies as well as instruments in house to address the important biological questions. This is tough yet the most interesting part of the research.