What is nuclear overhauser effect?

The Nuclear Overhauser Effect (NOE) is a phenomenon in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy that describes the enhancement of nuclear spin polarization by transient dipolar interactions between nuclear spins. This effect results in an increase in the intensity of signals in an NMR spectrum, which can provide valuable information about the structure and dynamics of molecules.

The NOE is most commonly observed in samples where two or more nuclei are in close proximity to each other, such as in macromolecular structures or in solutions containing paramagnetic species. The NOE can be classified into two main types: positive NOE, which leads to an increase in signal intensity, and negative NOE, which results in a decrease in signal intensity.

The NOE is used in a variety of NMR applications, including protein structure determination, ligand-receptor interactions, and molecular dynamics studies. By studying the NOE, researchers can gain valuable insights into the spatial relationships between different nuclei in a molecule, as well as the dynamics of molecular motions.

Overall, the Nuclear Overhauser Effect is a powerful tool in NMR spectroscopy that allows researchers to obtain valuable information about the structure and dynamics of molecules, making it an important technique in the field of structural biology and chemistry.