BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR) is pleased to announce the successful installation of a 1.2 GHz NMR spectrometer at the Leibniz Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) in Berlin, accepted in the second quarter of 2024. This ultra-high field NMR system positions FMP among leading institutions worldwide with access to 1.2 GHz NMR, enabling breakthrough biomolecular research.

New 1.2 GHz Avance NMR system at Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) in Berlin (Photo: Business Wire)

Ultra-high field NMR is a vital tool in pharmacology research, providing unique insights into molecular dynamics and structural rearrangements related to drug-target binding, protein interactions, and macromolecular structure refinements and rearrangements. Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play key roles in cell biology, such as IDPs implicated in cancer and infectious diseases. IDPs can be studied in depth using GHz-class NMR, by taking advantage of increased resolution of 1.2 GHz NMR. Researchers can gain an understanding of the conformational dynamics and function of IDPs to unlock the secrets of these important proteins and their role in diseases. This makes 1.2 GHz NMR a powerful tool for advancing our understanding of cellular and disease biology, and the development of therapies.

The Leibniz Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie is a respected research institute committed to advancing the field of molecular pharmacology through groundbreaking research and innovation. Since 1995, the institute has integrated eleven NMR systems, including the recently installed 1.2 GHz AVANCE NMR spectrometer. Dr. Peter Schmieder, Head of FMP's NMR platform, stated: "At FMP, we have witnessed the evolution of NMR over almost 30 years, with each step forward bringing new research opportunities. The 1.2 GHz instrument is the next step and we are excited about the new opportunities."

Professor Hartmut Oschkinat, whose scientific work and persistence were essential for the realization of the 1.2 GHz system, added: "With the 1.2 GHz instrument, we are entering a new realm of unimagined possibilities, thanks to the unwavering commitment of our partners at Bruker to drive innovation in NMR."

The new device will serve FMP groups that are dedicated to advancing the molecular basis of pharmacological therapies by characterizing novel active compounds and mechanisms of action prior to drug development. Professor Adam Lange, Head of the Structural Biology Department, and his group focus on membrane proteins in native-like lipid bilayers and supramolecular assemblies.

Professor Lange commented: "The enhanced resolution and sensitivity of this GHz-class instrument are game-changers for our work, allowing us to detect the architecture and motion of proteins with even greater accuracy and detail to further advance our understanding of cellular molecular machines."

The Integrated Structural Dynamics team, led by Junior Group Leader Dr. Sigrid Milles, is dedicated to studying clathrin-mediated endocytosis, a crucial cellular uptake pathway. "The intricate interaction network of intrinsically disordered proteins involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis has long been a mystery. With GHz-class NMR, we can now investigate the large IDPs that are active in the early phases of endocytosis at exceptional resolution to better understand the molecular dynamics of this important process," said Milles. "Our goal is to gain new insights into how cells take in molecules, which could ultimately lead to the development of new therapies for diseases."

Dr. Falko Busse, President of Bruker BioSpin, added: "Bruker is privileged to partner with the Leibniz Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), providing GHz-class NMR to their scientists. This can further accelerate the groundbreaking research in molecular pharmacology by FMP researchers and we are honored to contribute to such invaluable work and look forward to the scientific and medical discoveries that FMP's research will bring to society."

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Source: Bruker Corporation