Tiny sensors for major advances

Using NMR spectrometry to analyse important molecules that have not been accessible before now

18-May-2021 - Germany

An international research team involving the working group of biophysicist Dr. Manuel Etzkorn from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) has developed an approach for using NMR spectrometry to analyse important molecules that have not been accessible before now. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, the authors describe a simpler and efficient means of labelling the molecules with methyl groups as sensors.

HHU / Dr. Manuel Etzkorn

Illustration of synthesis products which can be applied to, e.g., eucaryotic cell culture, to generate proteins with suitable methyl sensors. The resulting NMR signal is strongly increased.

To understand life at molecular level, we need to be able to investigate the central components such as proteins in as natural a form and environment as possible. NMR or ‘nuclear magnetic resonance’ spectroscopy offers unique opportunities in this regard.

Methyl groups within proteins are particularly suitable sensors for use in this method. Methyl groups are composed of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms. To amplify the signal from these sensors to a sufficient level, large portions of the remaining protein need to be enriched with deuterium atoms in complicated procedures. Deuterium is a hydrogen isotope with a proton and a neutron in its atomic nucleus. In the past, however, such enrichment was possible only using special production platforms.

As a result, the use of NMR spectroscopy to investigate systems that could not be produced using those platforms was either impossible or very limited. Such systems include in particular a whole range of therapeutically relevant systems such as antibodies or the class of GPCRs (‘G-protein coupled receptors’) targeted by a very large percentage of modern medicines.  

A research team at HHU led by Dr. Manuel Etzkorn from the Institute of Physical Biology and the Biomolecular NMR Centre (which is run jointly by HHU and Forschungszentrum Jülich) collaborated with colleagues from Sofia University, Harvard Medical School and the Dana Faber Cancer Institute in Boston to develop a new method that can integrate the characteristics required of the sensors in all common production platforms. The synthesis method is considerably simpler and over 20 times more cost effective than previous methods for integrating methyl group sensors. It also works in systems that were inaccessible up to now.

The journal Angewandte Chemie put the research work on the front cover of its current edition. This highlights the special importance of this topic for improving biophysical basic research and the resulting development of new kinds of medicines.

Dr. Etzkorn emphasises: “The new method will allow us and others to investigate the building blocks of life in an amazing level of detail and in environments that are as natural as possible.”

Original publication

Other news from the department science

Most read news

More news from our other portals

All FT-IR spectrometer manufacturers at a glance

See the theme worlds for related content

Topic World Spectroscopy

Investigation with spectroscopy gives us unique insights into the composition and structure of materials. From UV-Vis spectroscopy to infrared and Raman spectroscopy to fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy, spectroscopy offers us a wide range of analytical techniques to precisely characterize substances. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of spectroscopy!

70+ products
40+ whitepaper
60+ brochures
View topic world
Topic World Spectroscopy

Topic World Spectroscopy

Investigation with spectroscopy gives us unique insights into the composition and structure of materials. From UV-Vis spectroscopy to infrared and Raman spectroscopy to fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy, spectroscopy offers us a wide range of analytical techniques to precisely characterize substances. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of spectroscopy!

70+ products
40+ whitepaper
60+ brochures

Topic world Synthesis

Chemical synthesis is at the heart of modern chemistry and enables the targeted production of molecules with specific properties. By combining starting materials in defined reaction conditions, chemists can create a wide range of compounds, from simple molecules to complex active ingredients.

15+ products
4 whitepaper
15+ brochures
View topic world
Topic world Synthesis

Topic world Synthesis

Chemical synthesis is at the heart of modern chemistry and enables the targeted production of molecules with specific properties. By combining starting materials in defined reaction conditions, chemists can create a wide range of compounds, from simple molecules to complex active ingredients.

15+ products
4 whitepaper
15+ brochures