HRMAS NMR Analysis of Algae and Identification of Molecules of Interest via Conventional 1D and 2D NMR: Sample Preparation and Optimization of Experimental Conditions

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has become an astounding tool for molecular characterization. Thanks to the development of probes and the increase of magnetic field, NMR has entered the field of biology and facilitated the identification of natural compounds. Indeed, this nondestructive NMR tool makes possible the complete characterization of less and less quantities of material via 1D and 2D sequences on many nuclei (e.g., ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, ¹⁵N). More recently, the development of high-resolution magic-angle spinning (HRMAS) probes have permitted direct analysis of living tissue (e.g., a piece of algae) without prior extraction providing information on both the total content and the ratio of different molecules within the sample; thus HRMAS facilitates a wide range of analyses, such as species differentiation or studies of metabolomics according to various environmental or experimental conditions. This chapter describes the specific sample preparation, based on an algal sample or extract, required for all NMR analyses in order to optimize the NMR response and obtain the most valuable information.