Project description
Dynamic nuclear polarisation-enhanced NMR of nanolitre-scale biomolecule solutions
Dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) is a technique used to enhance the sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals. Although compatible with both solid- and liquid-state samples, direct DNP in solutions has never been demonstrated for biomolecules. The ERC-funded LiquidStateDNP project aims to make this possible and enable DNP spectroscopy of biomacromolecules in solution volumes as small as a few hundred nanolitres, impossible even with traditional NMR techniques. LiquidStateDNP aims to enable use of the ‘solid-effect mechanism’ at room temperature and high magnetic fields. This mechanism has been used in solids for over 50 years but has rarely been used in liquids. Success will open the door to previously inaccessible biological applications at the nanolitre scale and under physiological conditions.
Objective
Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is an exciting and rapidly developing field in magnetic resonance, with solid-state and dissolution DNP techniques emerging as powerful tools across various applications, ranging from materials science to medicine. However, direct DNP in solutions still suffers from a lack of general applicability to macromolecules. The LiquidStateDNP project aims to establish DNP spectroscopy in the liquid state as an innovative tool for chemistry and biology, enabling the analysis of biomacromolecules with small sample volumes as low as a few hundred nanoliters – an achievement beyond the capabilities of traditional NMR techniques. This research will focus on using the solid-effect mechanism at high magnetic fields and room temperature, which offers significant potential for investigating a wide range of molecules. Notably, the solid-effect mechanism exhibits a favorable dependence on the molecular weight of the analyte, becoming increasingly effective for larger macromolecules. To achieve the project’s goals, I will pursue the following objectives: (i) develop a DNP probehead with improved signal sensitivity and resolution; (ii) establish methodologies for various nuclei, including ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F, and ³¹P; (iii) optimize the structure of polarizing agents to maximize their effectiveness in solid-effect DNP; and (iv) demonstrate the application of liquid-state DNP to biomolecules for the first time. This will involve monitoring ligand binding to nucleic acids or proteins, investigating the dynamics of native membranes, and conducting in-cell NMR studies on living cells to detect drug binding and penetration. The LiquidStateDNP project aims to develop an innovative tool for liquid-state NMR, unlocking fundamentally new opportunities for a variety of biological applications at the nanoliter scale under physiological conditions.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
60323 Frankfurt Am Main
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.