Speaker
Dr
Alexander Gottberg
(CERN / CENBG / CSIC)
Description
In August 2012 β-NMR spectroscopy was successfully applied for the world’s first experiments on liquid samples - an achievement which opens new avenues of research in the fields of wet chemistry and biochemistry. This project was motivated by the need for finding a new experimental approach to directly study biologically highly relevant metal ions, such as: Mg(II), Cu(I), Ca(II), and Zn(II).
The resonance spectrum recorded for Mg-31 implanted into a liquid sample shows two clear peaks, which originate from Mg ions occupying two different coordination geometries, illustrating that this technique can in fact discriminate between different structures - the first and the most important step towards the application of β-NMR spectroscopy in chemistry.
A prototype bio-β-NMR spectrometer, designed and constructed explicitly for this purpose using polarized ions at the COLLAPS setup, allowed for testing different aspects, such as: different liquids, vacua and rest gases, showing that even aqueous solutions are within reach.
In a future biochemical perspective, this proof-of-principle allows the application of β-NMR for studying metal ions, which are silent in most other spectroscopic techniques in their body-like environments.
Primary authors
Dr
Alexander Gottberg
(CERN / CENBG / CSIC)
Dr
Lars Hemmingsen
(Dept. of Natural Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University)
Dr
Magdalena Kowalska
(CERN)
Monika Stachura
(University of Copenhagen (DK))
