The Iowa State University Biomolecular NMR Facility is seeking funding to replace and upgrade
the console, cryoprobe and accessories for its 700 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
spectrometer. This instrument serves a vibrant group of research faculty at Iowa State
University (ISU) that pursue NIH funded research programs tackling questions related to
biomolecular structures and complexes, natural products, protein disorder/aggregation,
metabolomics, and small molecule drug discovery. The requested upgrade will dramatically
increase access to high field NMR spectrometers at ISU allowing the long-term research
objectives of our faculty to be realized. As the community of structural biologists at ISU has
expanded rapidly over the past decade, the Biomolecular NMR Facility has experienced
increased demand for NMR time. The specific request includes replacing all console electronics,
all magnet accessories such as shims, the complete cryoprobe system and adding an
autosampler. The original 54 mm bore 16.5 T Bruker UltraShield superconducting magnet will
be maintained. It is typical for NMR magnets to be serviceable for several decades (much longer
than consoles). The existing 15-year-old console has reached the end of its useful life as an
instrument for state-of-the-art biomolecular NMR research. The need for repair downtime on
the 700 MHz instrument has increased steadily in recent years while at the same time the
manufacturer no longer guarantees the availability of replacement parts. Even when in good
operational condition, the performance of the spectrometer is not up to the standards of
modern methodologies, particularly the nuclear relaxation dispersion experiments required by
ISU researchers. Thus, a successful upgrade of the 700 MHz NMR spectrometer at ISU will
enhance ongoing research projects related to human health by providing greater access to high
field instrumentation as well as additional capabilities currently not available on the 700 MHz
instrument.