Determines
structures of
biological
macromolecules
Study time
dependent
phenomena
Reaction
kinetics
Molecular
recognition
Protein
folding
Energy levels of atomic nuclei are
split by a magnetic field
Transitions between energy levels can be induced
by exciting the sample with radiation whose
frequency is equivalent to the energy difference
between the two levels
Limitations
Low sensitivity
High complexity
New developments in NMR
Progress in spectromer
technology has increased
sensitivity and resolution of
NMR
Theoretical advances
Better
understanding of
information from
NMR
Advances in biochemical methods
Simple and fast
preparation of
samples
Heteronuclei can be
incorporated into
protein
Why NMR?
Probe molecules are in
their natural state
Structure
Function
Dynamics
Interactions with
ligands, proteins and
membranes
No crystal packing effects
No need to crystallise
NMR is expensive and uses
large equipment but structural
and functional information can be
found out