NMR console (replacement) for 600 MHz spectrometer, cryogenic cooling platform and 19F probe head.

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 452632086

The application is integrated into the project Covid19-NMR that started March 26th, 2020. In this international with more than 30 Partners from 10 countries, all viral RNAs and viral proteins of SARS-CoV-2 are produced and their NMR spectra analyzed and assignment. The biochemical production and the NMR-spectroscopic characterization (NMR assignments) forms the basis for a large screening project. The infrastructural support for this screening project is the topic of the current application. The aim of Covid19-NMR is to screen up to 20 viral proteins and 40 viral RNAs for binding of ligands and drugs. The low molecular weight compounds are assembled in five different libraries with up to 1000 ligands. Ligand-based screening is divided into ligands with 19F atoms and ligands without 19F. 19-based screening offers a number of advantages over 1H-based screening. Therefore, we apply for the upgrade of an existing 600 MHz-NMR-spectrometer with a 19F cryogenic probe allowing for 1H decoupling. To do so, we need to renew a 20 year old console and the associated cryogenic cooling unit. Evaluation of this applciation is urgent. The producing company Bruker, the sole company providing such eqiupment, has offered to deliver the equipment till August 2020 in order to expedite research in Covid19-NMR.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: NMR-Austauschkonsole für 600 MHz Spektrometer, kryogene Kühleinheit und 19F-Probenkopf
• Instrumentation Group: 1740 Hochauflösende NMR-Spektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
• Leader: Professor Dr. Harald Schwalbe