In February 2009, the NRC-Institute for Marine Biosciences (IMB) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, became home to a new 700 MHz High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance (HRMR) Spectrometer. Housed within the new Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance Facility (BMRF) the 700MHz MR spectrometer completes a powerful all encompassing facility with state-of-the-art solution, semi-solid and imaging capabilities. The 700 MHz HRMR spectrometer, which was manufactured in Germany and Switzerland, provides a focal point for HRMR capabilities and researchers with exceptional sensitivity for metabolic profiling, structural characterization and QA/QC for product characterization.

With two ultra-high sensitivity Helium cooled-probes, the 700 MHz Spectrometer has much greater potential and capabilities in comparison to the 500 MHz Spectrometer that has been at IMB since 1991. For comparison, the improvements with 700 MHz translates to either a 100 fold decrease in instrument time or a 10 fold less concentrated sample which substantially enhances life science research by providing more comprehensive molecular and biochemical details. “There are different ways we can pick out information. It’s a very good technique for identifying molecular level structure of molecules”, says Dr. Ray Syvitski, Research Officer at NRC-IMB. In addition, a unique feature of this equipment is the automatic sample changer that runs independently and keeps the samples cool while being optimized for large batches of 250 samples for every 24 hours. Along with the new Spectrometer, the BMRF has a newly renovated magnet room offering excellent instrument stability resulting in artefact free data.

Uniqueness in high throughput and high sensitivity

The 700 MHz Spectrometer is the world’s most sensitive instrument for mass limited samples and produces high resolution spectra for determining molecular level structures and product profiles of complex fluids. This instrument is coupled to a temperature controlled robotic sample changer that ensures high throughput. “It gives you information about molecular structures that you can’t get in other ways – without destroying the sample.” says Dr. John Walter, Senior Research Officer at NRC-IMB. The extremely high sensitivity, increased resolution and high throughput will allow for greater precision and accuracy in research conclusions within a short period.

The Spectrometer can be used to examine cells, biofluids, tissues and/or their extracts to show metabolic differences that potentially depict physiological perturbations. For example, in conjunction with advanced statistics and chemometrics, MR spectra of diseased, healthly and drug-treated tissues can be analyzed to determine if the targeted mode of action for which a drug was designed is achieved.

The 700 MHz MRS is versatile, with multidisciplinary applications that range from fundamental molecular science to diagnostic and practical health care. Its capabilities include chemical metrology for international comparison of reference standards, certification of reference materials for government regulatory agencies, health, environmental, and quantitative metabolomics for industries based on bioproducts, and profiling of industry products useful for Quantity Assurance and Quantity Control (QA/QC).

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is also a part of this new facility, although the MRI equipment resides in the IWK Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The IWK Hospital works in collaborations with NRC-IMB and NRC-IBDA to provide diagnostic technologies for human health and disease.

Promising Successes leading to a Bright Future

The BMRF will be a key partner in an ambitious metabolomics study conducted as part of the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health(PATH). It will perform metabolomic profiling of biological samples obtained from participants in the Atlantic PATH study. The Atlantic PATH is the largest cancer cohort study ever undertaken in Atlantic Canada and has recently secured funding ($200,000) from the QE II foundation for this metabolomics research component. Overall, the Atlantic PATH project is assembling a cohort of 30,000 Atlantic Canadians (35-69 yrs old) as part of the larger Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project (CPTP) funded by Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC). "When metabolomics data are made available to researchers, answers to several questions including potential risk factors for, and susceptibility to cancer, cardiovascular diseases and so on can be sought" says Dr. Tobias Karakach, Research Officer at NRC-IMB who is the project lead on the metabolomics study at IMB. Due to the reproducibility of MR data, follow up metabolomics studies of volunteers will be possible over the 30 years the PATH project is expected to last.

Presently, research is being conducted at IMB to develop cancer drugs and antimicrobial peptides. In partnership with IBD Atlantic, Dr. Ray Syvitski is hoping to provide molecular level details associated with drug binding which will be used to guide rational molecular design, improve efficacy and optimize products. Dr. Syvitski explains, “It consists of modifying the drug’s characteristics and using tags to monitor the drugs within a living organism”. Within living cells, MR experiments can identify drugs that are bound to receptors. MR spectroscopy can identify which molecules out of a sea of potential candidates can bind to a receptor and which part of the molecule is important for activity.

Researchers at IMB’s Marine Research Station located only 30 minutes away in Ketch Harbor, Nova Scotia are presently working on the Theme 4 Initiative of NRC’s National Bioproducts Program, which involves the production of biofuels from marine algae. Researches at the BMRF will provide QA/QC (quality assurance and quality control) by monitor the production, composition and quantity of oils within the algae growths.

A Collaborative Magnetic Resonance Research Network

The Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance Facility links NRC-IMB to other NRC Institutes, Hospitals, Government sectors, Research Organizations, Universities, and other science and technology industries. IMB’s partners in this facility are IBD Atlantic, Dalhousie University, the NRC Institute for Nutrisciences and Health (NRC-INH), and the IWK Hospital.

NRC-IMB’s goal for the BMRF is to ensure that the facility is used at its optimum capacity. The short term strategy is to promote awareness of the facility’s availability to research organizations and industries. IMB aspires to see that the facility is used for research that is beneficial to Canadian and international communities.

The facility is available to the public for use, both in Canada and Internationally. Researchers are encouraged and welcomed to either send in samples for IMB researchers to analyze on their behalf, or to personally partake in using the facility. NRC-IMB offers a range of contracts ranging from collaborative research agreements through to fee-for-service agreements. Data is secure, confidential and can be taken with a USB or transferred to your computer. Additionally we offer sit down space in the BMRF for off-line processing and analysis. Assistance with the equipment through data acquisition, hands-on training and data interpretation is available at NRC-IMB.

Contact Information

Dr. Ray Syvitski

Functional Macromolecular NMR Research Officer,

Phone: (902) 426-1674
Fax: (902) 426-9413
E-mail: Ray.Syvitski@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

General Inquiries:

Email: NMR.IMB@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

1411 Oxford Street

Halifax, NS B3H 3Z1

Phone: (902) 426-8332

Fax: (902) 426-9413