NMR Centre

The main focus of research in the NMR centre is on protein dynamics and the link between dynamics and thermodynamics in ligand binding to proteins. Other areas of research are partially folded states especially in relation to amyloid fibre formation. A number of NMR protein structure determinations are also being undertaken.

The NMR technique is unique in its power to resolve protein dynamics at a residue specific level and in providing information on structural ensembles that are not dominated by a single well defined structure such as partially folded states.

Facilities

The NMR centre provides a number of facilites:

Contacts

The facility is under the day to day management of Arnout Kalverda who is the Facility Manager. Prof Steve Homans who holds the Schools Chair of Structural Biology is in overall charge of the Facility.

Address

Faculty of Biological Sciences NMR Centre
Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology
University of Leeds
Mount Preston Street
Leeds, LS2 9JT

Location

The NMR centre is located in the Irene Manton building level 7, in rooms 7.94e and f and in a purpose built facility on level 4 behind the LC Miall building. Rooms 7.02-7.04 the LC Miall building also form part of the facility as well. Access is from the lobby at the main entrance of the School of Biology in the LC Miall building. For information on getting to the university and school of biochemistry see the relevant parts of the main university web pages.

Access and Booking

The facilities are available to outside users if they wish to start a collaboration with the research staff of the centre. Charges are made for the use of the spectrometers and the current rate is £25 a day (as of 05-08-2001 ). Thus typically simple spectra such as HSQCs cost £12 and 3D dimensional spectra cost upto £75 for a 3 day experiment such as a 1 H- 15 N-HSQC-NOESY or a 1 H- 15 N- 13 C HN(CO)CA. To setup a new project using the facility or to acquire one off spectra you should contact Arnout Kalverda the facility manager.

Time on the spectrometers is booked every Friday afternoon at 14.00, room 7.03, level 7, LC Mial building. Otherwise send a request by e-mail to the facility manager , as sometimes the bookings can be arranged to create extra slots. A record of the current bookings can be found on the notice board in the Homans lab, in room 7.03, level 7, LC Mial building. New users will be supervised initially as setting up experiments is quite complex, and will therefore need to arrange time with the facility manager . Advice and help with running non-standard experiments is also available from the research staff.