NMR Spectroscopy and Its Value: A Primer

摘要

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is widely used by chemists. Furthermore, the use of NMR spectroscopy to solve structures of macromolecules or to examine protein–ligand interactions is popular. Yet, few students entering graduate education in biological sciences have been introduced to this method or its utility. Over the last six years, I have had the task of introducing NMR spectroscopy to first-year graduate students with a largely biological bent. During the last four years, I have used a new strategy in teaching this topic. Starting with some seemingly frivolous examples of NMR utilization, I introduce basic ideas and concepts in NMR spectroscopy in the first lecture and then present more serious biophysical and biotechnological applications in the second lecture. Students are then asked to solve a few simple problems to reinforce concepts and then to summarize an original research article from a list of journals, published within a 4-month period, to initiate them into reading research articles employing NMR methods. This strategy to introduce NMR spectroscopy to beginning graduate students would also be suitable for upper-level undergraduate students.