Electron Spin Resonance (ESR)

(Person in Charge: Lev Weiner)

The Electron Spin/Paramagnetic Resonance (ESR/EPR) Unit is equipped with a Bruker ELEXYS 500 (X and Q bands, 9.5 and 35 GHz) and ER 200 D SRC (9.5 GHz, X band) spectrometers. The various techniques for measuring the structure and properties of free radicals and paramagnetic ions in solid state and in solution are available for a wide range of temperatures.

The ESR Unit provides consultation and training for scientists interested in techniques for the detection and quantitation of oxidative stress in chemical and biological systems.

Site directed spin labeling of mutants of diamagnetic proteins provides unique information about properties of biopolymers under physiological conditions (pH, temperature, etc.)

A novel spin-tapping technique has been developed for quantitating and monitoring the kinetics of appearance of short lived reactive oxygen species and carbon-centered radicals in chemical, photochemical and biological systems. The technique can also be used to distinguish between the various reactive oxygen species, which include superoxide and hydroxyl (OH) radicals, as well as singlet oxygen (¹O₂). The ESR technique is applicable to strongly scattering and stained systems,such as organ homogenates and cell cultures.

A novel ESR approach has been developed for the quantitative determination of sulfhydryl groups (down to 10 -12 moles) in chemical and biological systems.