Chapter 17 High-Resolution NMR Methods for Study of Higher Plants

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the means to obtain high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data from living plant cells and tissues. High resolution NMR spectroscopy can provide plant biologists with information on the types of low-molecular-weight metabolites in plant cells, their relative concentrations, their mobility, and their interactions with other species such as H + or paramagnetic ions. The chapter focuses on one-dimensional NMR. The most important magnetic isotopes in biological NMR are 1 H, 13 C, 15 N, and 31 P. The term high resolution NMR implies observation of distinct signals in spectra. The distinct signals can reflect different chemical groups; this effect is the chemical shift, and the spectral axis is generally labeled “chemical shift.” NMR probes are aluminum-bodied cylinders inserted into the magnet bore. They contain a coil of copper wire or foil that surrounds the sample tube. The expense of NMR reflects technological effort aimed at overcoming the inherent insensitivity of the method. NMR signals can readily be obtained from metabolites present at 10 -3 M.