# An ODNP Probe to Study Hydration Dynamics in Membrane Protein

> **NIH NIH R44** · BRIDGE 12 TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · 2020 · $547,902

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
 The proposed research focuses on the development of turn-key instrumentation for liquid-state
Overhauser Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (ODNP) spectroscopy to study the site-specific translational dynamics
of water molecules located at the interface of bio-macromolecules such as membrane proteins. It will allow
researchers to readily perform ODNP experiments in a state-of-the-art commercially available X-band cw/pulsed
electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer or, alternatively, in a standalone, benchtop ODNP system.
 In recent years, DNP has proven to be a robust method to increase signal intensities in NMR experiments
in laboratories around the world and substantial progress has been made in adapting DNP for solid- and solution-
state NMR spectroscopy. This progress has sparked a new interest in ODNP spectroscopy. Although the method
is known since the 1960s it has just recently been applied successfully to study the site-specific translational
dynamics of water located at the interface of large bio-macromolecules such as membrane proteins. ODNP can
map out the local and site-specific hydration dynamics landscape of membrane proteins and lipid membranes
and can provide critical information about the protein structure and dynamics.
 One of the major challenge of this method is that currently no turn-key, robust instrumentation is available.
In this SBIR phase 2 application we will build on the phase 1 success. We propose to develop a continuous-
wave ODNP resonator, a microwave power source with integrated NMR spectrometer, and an application
package for OpenVnmrJ to completely control the experiment. The resonator will have a large conversion factor
to reduce the required microwave power and therefore sample heating.
 The successful development of this technology will provide researchers access to instrumentation
allowing them to incorporate ODNP spectroscopy in their research routine without the hassle of troubleshooting
home-built equipment. This will greatly proliferate the method and is of large interest to many projects funded by
the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9896838
- **Project number:** 5R44GM116612-03
- **Recipient organization:** BRIDGE 12 TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Thorsten Maly
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $547,902
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-09-30 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9896838

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9896838, An ODNP Probe to Study Hydration Dynamics in Membrane Protein (5R44GM116612-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9896838. Licensed CC0.

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