MOSBRI Network

Since 2021, the Solid-state NMR group and other RUG groups have been part of the European MOSBRI network for Molecular Biophysical characterisation. This page provides practical information for people interested in working with us in context of the MOSBRI programme. For now this page is still a work in progress.

For immediate questions you are encouraged to contact us.

More is coming soon. In the mean time, the MOSBRI website has some info on the RUG-BP site and its capabilities.

Solid-state NMR

Our group offers access to our solid-state NMR for biophysical and structural characterisation of protein-lipid complexes and protein aggregates. In addition, we may be able to facilitate complementary characterisation data applicable to protein aggregates/aggregation. Note that the scope and goal of MOSBRI-related work is more on understanding changes in (domain-level) mobility and structure, rather than determination of 3D atomic structure. To get an impression of the kind of data and insights we are talking about, the following references are indicative:

Applications to proteins

  • Boatz, Jennifer C., Matthew J. Whitley, Mingyue Li, Angela M. Gronenborn, and Patrick C. A. van der Wel. “Cataract-Associated P23T ΓD-Crystallin Retains a Native-like Fold in Amorphous-Looking Aggregates Formed at Physiological PH.” Nat Commun 8 (May 5, 2017): 15137. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15137.
  • Mandal, Abhishek, Cody L. Hoop, Maria DeLucia, Ravindra Kodali, Valerian E. Kagan, Jinwoo Ahn, and Patrick C. A. van der Wel. “Structural Changes and Proapoptotic Peroxidase Activity of Cardiolipin-Bound Mitochondrial Cytochrome c.” Biophys. J. 109, no. 9 (November 3, 2015): 1873–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2015.09.016.
  • Ryder, Bryan D., Irina Matlahov, Sofia Bali, Jaime Vaquer-Alicea, Patrick C. A. van der Wel, and Lukasz A. Joachimiak. “Regulatory Inter-Domain Interactions Influence Hsp70 Recruitment to the DnaJB8 Chaperone.” Nature Communications 12, no. 1 (December 2021): 946. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21147-x.
  • Witkowski, Andrzej, Gary K. L. Chan, Jennifer C. Boatz, Nancy J. Li, Ayuka P. Inoue, Jaclyn C. Wong, Patrick C. A. van der Wel, and Giorgio Cavigiolio. “Methionine Oxidized Apolipoprotein A-I at the Crossroads of HDL Biogenesis and Amyloid Formation.” FASEB J 32, no. 6 (June 2018): 3149–65. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.201701127R.

Lipid membrane and solvent dynamics

  • Mandal, Abhishek, and Patrick C. A. Van der Wel. “MAS (1)H NMR Probes Freezing Point Depression of Water and Liquid-Gel Phase Transitions in Liposomes.” Biophys. J. 111, no. 9 (November 1, 2016): 1965–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2016.09.027.
  • Wel, Patrick C. A. van der, T. Pott, Sven Morein, Denise V. Greathouse, Roger E. Koeppe II, and J. Antoinette Killian. “Tryptophan-Anchored Transmembrane Peptides Promote Formation of Nonlamellar Phases in Phosphatidylethanolamine Model Membranes in a Mismatch-Dependent Manner.” Biochemistry 39, no. 11 (2000): 3124–33. https://doi.org/10.1021/bi9922594.

Sample preparation guidelines and information

Please find additional information on the MOSBRI website, and reach out to us as well. A general discussion of ssNMR samples and their preparation is given in our publication:

Mandal, Abhishek, Jennifer C. Boatz, Travis B. Wheeler, and Patrick C. A. van der Wel. “On the Use of Ultracentrifugal Devices for Routine Sample Preparation in Biomolecular Magic-Angle-Spinning NMR.” J Biomol NMR 67, no. 3 (March 2017): 165–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10858-017-0089-6.