Ultrafast Magic-Angle Spinning Probe for 1H Detection Solid-State NMR to Advance Structural Analysis of Macromolecular Assemblies

PROJECT SUMMARY Support is requested for the acquisition of a 0.7 mm ultrafast magic-angle spinning (MAS) probe, which will be installed on an 800 MHz Bruker Neo NMR spectrometer situated in the Max T. Roger facility at Michigan State University (MSU). The facility, home to 12 NMR spectrometers, has recently undergone significant upgrades and renovations through MSU's institutional commitment. MSU also sustains two full-time staff scientists for facility operation and management, along with a helium-recovery system for sustainable operation. The proposed probe will deliver cutting-edge capability of ultrafast MAS up to 111 kHz, enabling a comprehensive suite of two- and three-dimensional correlation experiments with 1H detection. The significant enhancement in resolution and sensitivity will facilitate high-resolution characterization of fully protonated and native cellular samples, significantly reduce experimental time, enable examination of samples with limited quantities, and foster method development specifically tailored for carbohydrate-based biopolymers and biomaterials—an area currently under-investigated yet in need of technical advancements. The instrument will serve eight MSU investigators from five departments and five external users from esteemed institutions such as Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Vanderbilt University, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and Binghamton University. Its utilization will enable in-depth exploration of various biologically and biomedically significant systems, including the cell wall structure of pathogenic fungal and bacterial species, their roles in antimicrobial resistance and adaptive survival, the structure-function relationship of fusion peptides, amyloids, enzymes, and lipids, as well as vaccine and drug development. Being the sole instrument of its kind in the state of Michigan, it will provide essential services to users regionally and nationally.