DMMC Course: TECHNIQUES & STRATEGIES IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE

1650-1730 Friday 10 December 2004. Houston Lecture Theatre, RCSI

Application of NMR to biological systems Prof Paul Malthouse, UCD

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is often perceived as a specialised technique used to determine the solution structure of proteins which do not crystallise. However, NMR is also widely used to study a range of biological systems. It is a non-invasive technique, which can be used to study both large and small biomolecules in both the liquid and solid state. It is also used to study perfused cells, perfused organs, biopsy samples as well as specific tissues in intact animals, which can also be examined by magnetic imaging techniques. Examples of these approaches will be given.