Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR
Published on: December 16, 2013
Applications of tritium NMR to macromolecules: a study of two nucleic acid molecules
1National Tritium Labelling Facility, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
Abstract:
We have tritium labeled two nucleic acid molecules, an 8 kDa DNA oligomer and a 20 kDa 'hammer-head' RNA for tritium NMR investigations. The DNA sequence studied has been previously used in homonuclear studies of DNA-bound water molecules and tritium NMR was expected to facilitate these investigations by eliminating the need to suppress the water resonance in tritium-detected 3H-1H NOESY experiments. We observed the anticipated through-space interactions found in B-form DNA in the NOESY experiments and an unexpected 'antiphase' cross-peak at the water frequency. T1 measurements on the tritiated DNA molecule indicated that relaxation rates were also accelerated for tritium and protons. Tritium NMR spectra of the hammerhead RNA molecule indicated conformational dynamics in the conserved region of the molecule in the absence of Mg2+ and spermine, two components necessary for cleavage. The dynamics were also investigated by 15N-correlated 1H spectroscopy and persisted after the addition of Mg2+ and spermine.
More Related Videos
14:55Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Published on: September 17, 2017
10:24NMR-Based Activity Assays for Determining Compound Inhibition, IC50 Values, Artifactual Activity, and Whole-Cell Activity of Nucleoside Ribohydrolases
Published on: June 30, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Proton (¹H) NMR: Chemical Shift
Absorption signals of all the protium nuclei in a...
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Variable-Temperature NMR
Applications Of NMR In Biology
The...
Chemical Shift: Internal References and Solvent Effects
The internal reference compound generally used in NMR spectroscopy is tetramethylsilane (TMS). TMS is preferred because it is chemically inert, soluble in NMR solvents, and easily removable. Also, the highly shielded methyl protons in TMS yield an intense...
Other Nuclides: 31P, 19F, 15N NMR
While fluorine-19 and phosphorous-31 have high natural abundances (100%) and positive gyromagnetic ratios, nitrogen-15 has a low natural abundance and a negative gyromagnetic ratio. However, nitrogen-15 is still preferred over nitrogen-14 (which has a high...