Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) instruments at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are housed in the High-Field Magnetic Resonance Facility (HFMRF), which is part of the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL). Current research in the HFMRF is focused on determining the structures of molecules that could affect biological health and remediation of environmental damage. Our scientists have used the facility to carry out some of the most exciting research in modern molecular biology and biochemistry, including: structural genomics - to determine the three-dimensional structure of DNA, RNA, proteins, and enzymes as well as their intermolecular association. functional genomics - to determine the interaction domains among DNA, RNA, and proteins, with particular emphasis on DNA damage recognition and repair processes.Combined optical and magnetic resonance microscope. Low temperature probes for metalloprotein chemistry and structure. Virtual NMR capability enables use and collaboration with EMSL scientists for remote users via secure shell over the Internet.

This is a design of a typical 900 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance system. At 12 feet tall, the magnet is 400,000 times stronger than the earth's magnetic field. Graphic Courtesy/PNNL. The NMR works by magnetizing the nuclei of atoms that have spin, a physical property that makes them behave like tiny bar magnets. Scientists can deduce their properties based on interactions in the strong magnetic field provided by the NMR instrument. Martha Morton operates the new Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, which opened Nov. 4 in the Chemistry Building. NMR is a powerful research tool for biologists, chemists, and pharmaceutical scientists. Photo by Dollie Harvey In structural biology, a growing field at UConn and nationally, scientists are using increasingly larger and more powerful NMR’s to learn about the structure of very large biomolecules, which could not easily be studied before. Martha Morton, NMR facility scientist, says there are as many as 80 regular NMR users now in different research groups on the Storrs campus. “NMR gives you super high resolution,” says Philip Marcus, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology and director of the Biotechnology and Bioservices Center.