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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Methods to Identify the NMR Resonances of the 13C-Dimethyl N-terminal Amine on Reductively Methylated Proteins
Published on: December 12, 2013
Impurity proton NMR signals from common "proton-free" laboratory materials
H Nathaniel Bachman1, Isaac F Silvera
1Lyman Laboratory of Physics, Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Abstract:
For the study of small samples (tens of microns cubed) by NMR, impurities from the environment and construction materials (Teflon, Kel-F, glass NMR tubes, etc.) can dominate the signal, in particular for proton NMR. Using pulsed NMR with a resolution of several microseconds, we have studied a number of common construction materials considered to be proton-free and find considerable proton impurity. We present results in terms of impurity proton spins per milligram and discuss procedures to minimize the effects of impurity signal.
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